CHRISTOLOGIA
Or
A Declaration Of The Glorious Mystery Of The Person of Christ--God and Man:
With The
Infinite Wisdom, Love, And Power Of God In The Contrivance And Constitution Thereof;
As Also, Of The Grounds And Reasons Of His Incarnation;
The Nature Of His Ministry In Heaven;
The Present State Of The Church Above
Thereon;
And The Use Of His Person In Religion:
With An Account And Vindication Of The Honour, Worship, Faith, Love, And Obedience Due
Unto Him, In And From The Church.
by
John Owen
An humble Inquiry into, and Prospect of, the infinite Wisdom of God, in the Constitution of the
Person of Christ, and the Way of Salvation thereby
CHAPTER 16
RETURN TO | Table Of Contents, Prefatory Note, The Preface
|
| Chapters 1, 2, 3 |
| Chapters 4, 5, 6 |
| Chapters 7, 8, 9 |
| Chapters 10, 11, 12 |
| Chapter 13, 14, 15 |
GO TO | Chapters 17, 18 |
| Chapters 19, 20 |
"Yea doubtless, and I count all things [but] loss for the excellency of the knowledge of
Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them [but]
dung, that I may win Christ."
Philippians 3:8.
CHAPTER 16
An humble Inquiry into, and Prospect of, the infinite Wisdom of God,
in the Constitution of the Person of Christ, and the Way of Salvation thereby.
FROM the consideration of the things before insisted on, we may endeavour, according
unto our measure, to take a view of, and humbly adore, the infinite wisdom of God, in the holy
contrivance of this great "mystery of godliness, God manifest in the flesh." As it is a spiritual,
evangelical mystery, it is an effect of divine wisdom, in the redemption and salvation of the
church, unto the eternal glory of God; and as it is a "great mystery," so it is the mystery of the
"manifold wisdom of God," Eph. 3: 9,--that is, of infinite wisdom working in great variety of
acting and operations, suited unto, and expressive of, its own infinite fulness: for herein were "all
the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" laid up, and laid out, Col. 2: 3. An argument this is, in
some parts whereof divers of the ancient writes of the church have laboured, some occasionally,
and some with express design. I shall insist only on those things which Scripture light leads us
directly unto. The depths of divine wisdom in this glorious work are hid from the eyes of all
living. "God [alone] understandeth the way thereof; and he knoweth the place thereof;" as he
speaks, Job 28: 21, 23. Yet is it so glorious in its effects, that "destruction and death say, We have
heard the fame thereof with our ears," verse 22. The fame and report of this Divine wisdom reach
even unto hell. Those who eternally perish shall hear a fame of this wisdom, in the glorious effects
of it towards the blessed souls above, though some of them would not believe it here in the light
of the Gospel, and none of them can understand it there, in their everlasting darkness. Hence the
report which they have of the wisdom is an aggravation of their misery.
These depths we may admire and adore, but we cannot comprehend: "For who has known the
mind of the Lord herein, or with whom took he counsel?" Concerning the original causes of his
counsels in this great mystery we can only say, "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and
knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgements, and his ways past finding out." This
alone is left unto us in the way of duty, that in the effects of them we should contemplate on their
excellency, so as to give glory to God, and live in a holy admiration of his wisdom and grace. For
to give glory unto him, and admire him, is our present duty, until he shall come eternally "to be
glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe," 2 Thess. 1:10.
We can do no more but stand at the shore of this ocean, and adore its unsearchable depths. What
is delivered from them by divine revelation we may receive as pearls of price, to enrich and adorn
our souls. For "the secret things belong unto the LORD our God, but those things which are
revealed belong unto us," that we may do "the words of this law," Deut. 29: 29. We shall not,
therefore, in our inquiry into this great mystery, intrude ourselves into the things which we have
not seen, but only endeavour a right understanding of what is revealed concerning it. For the end
of all divine revelations is our knowledge of the things revealed, with our obedience thereon; and
unto this end things revealed do belong unto us.
Some things in general are to be premised unto our present inquiry.
- 1. We can have no view or due prospect of the wisdom of God in any of his works, much
less in this of "sending his Son in the likeness of sinful flesh," or the constitution of his person, and
the work of redemption to be accomplished thereby, unless we consider also the interest of the
other holy properties of the divine nature in them. Such are his holiness, his righteousness, his
sovereign authority, his goodness, love, and grace.
There are three excellencies of the divine nature principally to be considered in all the external
works of God.
- (1.) His Goodness, which is the communicative property thereof. This is the eternal fountain
and spring of all divine communications. Whatever is good in and unto any creature, is an
emanation from divine goodness. "He is good, and he does good." That which acts originally in
the divine nature, unto the communication of itself in any blessed or gracious effects unto the
creatures, is goodness.
- (2.) Wisdom, which is the directive power or excellency of the divine nature. Hereby God
guides, disposes, orders, and directs all things unto his own glory, in and by their own immediate
proper ends, Prov. 16: 4; Rev. 4: 11.
- (3.) Power, which is the effective excellency of the divine nature, effecting and
accomplishing what wisdom does design and order. Whereas wisdom, therefore, is that holy
excellency or power of the Divine Being, wherein God designs, and whereby he effects, the glory
of all the other properties of his nature, we cannot trace the paths of it in any work of God, unless
we know the interest and concernment of those other properties in that work. For that which
wisdom principally designs, is the glorification of them. And unto this end the effective property
of the divine nature, which is almighty power, always accompanies, or is subservient unto, the
directive or infinite wisdom, which is requisite unto perfection in operation. What infinite
goodness will communicate ad extra--what it will open the eternal fountain of the Divine Being
and all sufficiency to give forth--that infinite wisdom designs, contrives, and directs to the glory of
God; and what wisdom so designs, infinite power effects. See Isa. 40: 13-15,17, 28.
- 2. We can have no apprehensions of the interest of the other properties of the divine nature in
this great mystery of godliness, whose glory was designed in infinite wisdom, without the
consideration of that state and condition of our own wherein they are so concerned. That which
was designed unto the eternal glory of God in this great work of the incarnation of his Son, was
the redemption of mankind, or the recovery and salvation of the church. What has been disputed
by some concerning it, without respect unto the sin of man and the salvation of the church, is
curiosity, and indeed presumptuous folly. The whole Scripture constantly assigneth this sole end
of that effect of divine goodness and wisdom; yea, asserts it as the only foundation of the Gospel,
John 3: 16. Wherefore, unto a due contemplation of divine wisdom in it, it is necessary we should
consider what is the nature of sin, especially of that first sin, wherein our original apostasy from
God did consist--what was the condition of mankind thereon--what is the concernment of the holy
God therein, on the account of the blessed properties of his nature--what way was suited unto our
recovery, that God might be glorified in them all. Without a previous consideration of these
things, we can have no due conceptions of the wisdom of God in this glorious work which we
inquire after. Wherefore I shall so far speak of them, that, if it be the will of God, the minds of
those who read and consider them may be opened and prepared to give admittance unto some
rays of that divine wisdom in this glorious work, the lustre of whose full light we are not able in
this world to behold.
When there was a visible pledge of the presence of God in the "bush that burned" and was not
consumed, Moses said he "would turn aside to see that great sight," Exod. 3: 3. And this great
representation of the glory of God being made and proposed unto us, it is certainly our duty to
divert from all other occasions unto the contemplation of it. But as Moses was then commanded
to put off his shoes, the place whereon he stood being holy ground, so it will be the wisdom of
him that writes, and of them that read, to divest themselves of all carnal affections and
imaginations, that they may draw nigh unto this great object of faith with due reverence and
fear.
The first thing we are to consider, in order unto the end proposed, is--the nature of our sin and
apostasy from God. For from thence we must learn the concernment of the divine excellencies of
God in this work. And there are three things that were eminent therein:
- (1.) A reflection on the honour of the holiness and wisdom of God, in the rejection of his
image. He had newly made man in his own image. And this work he so expresseth as to intimate a
peculiar effect of divine wisdom in it, whereby it was distinguished from all other external works
of creation whatever, Gen. 1: 26, 27, "And God said, Let Us make man in our image, after our
likeness. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him." Nowhere is
there such an emphasis of expression concerning any work of God. And sundry things are
represented as peculiar therein.
[1st,] That the word of consultation and that of execution are distinct. In all other works of
creation, the word of determination and execution was the same. When he created light--which
seems to be the beauty and glory of the whole creation--he only said, "Let there be light; and there
was light," Gen. 1: 3. So was it with all other things. But when he comes unto the creation of
man, another process is proposed unto our faith. These several words are distinct, not in time, but
in nature. "God said, Let us make man in our image and likeness;" and thereon it is added
distinctly, as the execution of that antecedent counsel, "So God made man in his own image."
This puts a signal eminency on this work of God.
[2dly,] A distinct, peculiar concernment of all the persons of the holy Trinity, in their consultation
and operation, is in like manner proposed unto us: "And God said, Let us make man." The truth
hereof I have sufficiently evinced elsewhere, and discovered the vanity of all other glosses and
expositions. The properties of the divine nature principally and originally considerable, in all
external operations, (as we have newly observed,) are goodness, wisdom, and power. In this great
work, divine goodness exerted itself eminently and effectually in the person of the Father--the
eternal fountain and spring, as of the divine nature, so of all divine operations. Divine wisdom
acted itself peculiarly in the person of the Son; this being the principal notion thereof--the eternal
Wisdom of the Father. Divine power wrought effectually in the person of the Holy Spirit; who is
the immediate actor of all divine operations.
[3dly,] The proposition of the effecting this
work, being by way of consultation, represents it a signal effect of infinite wisdom. These
expressions are used to lead us unto the contemplation of that wisdom.
Thus, "God made man in his own image;" that is, in such a rectitude of nature as represented his
righteousness and holiness--in such a state and condition as had a reflection on it of his power and
rule. The former was the substance of it--the latter a necessary consequent thereof. This
representation, I say, of God, in power and rule, was not that image of God wherein man was
created, but a consequent of it. So the words and their order declare: "Let us make man in our
image, and after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea," &c. Because
he was made in the image of God, this dominion and rule were granted unto him. So fond is their
imagination, who would have the image of God to consist solely in these things. Wherefore, the
loss of the image of God was not originally the loss of power and dominion, or a right thereunto;
but man was deprived of that right, on the loss of that image which it was granted unto. Wherein
it did consist, see Eccles. 7: 29; Eph 4: 24.
Three things God designed in this communication of his image unto our nature, which were his
principal ends in the creation of all things here below; and therefore was divine wisdom more
eminently exerted therein than in all the other works of this inferior creation.
The first was, that he might therein make a reprehension of his holiness and
righteousness among his creatures. This was not done in any other of them. Characters they had
on them of his goodness, wisdom, and power. In these things the "heavens declare the glory of
God, and the firmament showeth his handy-work." His eternal power and godhead are manifest in
the things that are made; but none of them, not the whole fabric of heaven and earth, with all their
glorious ornaments and endowments, were either fit or able to receive any impressions of his
holiness and righteousness of any of the moral perfections or universal rectitude of his nature.
Yet, in the demonstration and representation of these things does the glory of God principally
consist. Without them, he could not be known and glorified as God. Wherefore he would have an
image and representation of them in the creation here below. And this he will always have, so long
as he will be worshipped by any of his creatures. And therefore, when it was lost in Adam, it was
renewed in Christ, as has been declared.
The second was, that it might be a means of rendering actual glory unto him from all
other parts of the creation. Without this, which is as the animating life and form of the whole, the
other creatures are but as a dead thing. They could not any way declare the glory of God, but
passively and objectively. They were as an harmonious, well-tuned instrument, which gives no
sound unless there be a skilful hand to move and act it. What is light, if there be no eye to see it?
Or what is music, if there be no ear to hear it? How glorious and beautiful soever any of the
works of creation appear to be, from impressions of divine power, wisdom, and goodness on
them; yet, without this image of God in man, there was nothing here below to understand God in
them--to glorify God by them. This alone is that whereby, in a way of admiration, obedience, and
praise, we were enabled to render unto God all the glory which he designed from those works of
his power.
The third was, that it might be a means to bring man unto that eternal enjoyment of
Himself, which he was fitted for and designed unto. For this was to be done in a way of
obedience;--"Do this and live," was that rule of it which the nature of God and man, with their
mutual relation unto one another, did require. But we were made meet for this obedience, and
enabled unto it, only by virtue of this image of God implanted in our natures. It was morally a
power to live unto God in obedience, that we might come to the enjoyment of him in
glory.
Evident it is that these were the principal ends of God in the creation of all things. Wherefore this
constitution of our nature, and the furnishment of it with the image of God, was the most eminent
effect of infinite wisdom in all the outward works of the divine nature.
- (2.) In the entrance of sin, and by apostasy from God, man voluntarily rejected and defaced
this blessed representation of the righteousness and holiness of God--this great effect of his
goodness and wisdom, in its tendency unto his eternal glory, and our enjoyment of him. No
greater dishonour could be done unto him--no endeavour could have been more pernicious in
casting contempt on his counsel. For as his holiness, which was represented in that image, was
despoiled, so we did what lay in us to defeat the contrivance of his wisdom. This will be evident
by reflecting on the ends of it now mentioned. For,
[1.] Hereon there remained nothing, in all the creation here below, whereby any representation
might be made of God's holiness and righteousness, or any of the moral perfections of his nature.
How could it be done, this image being lost out of the world? The brute, inanimate part of the
creation, however stupendously great in its matter and glorious in its outward form, was no way
capable of it. The nature of man under the loss of this image--fallen, depraved, polluted, and
corrupted--gives rather a representation and image of Satan than of God. Hence--instead of
goodness, love, righteousness, holiness, peace, all virtues usefully communicative and effective of
the good of the whole race of mankind, which would have been effects of this image of Gods and
representatives of his nature--the whole world, from and by the nature of man, is filled with envy,
malice, revenge, cruelty, oppression, and all engines of promoting self, whereunto man is wholly
turned, as fallen off from God. He that would learn the divine nature, from the representation that
is made of it in the present acting of the nature of man, will be gradually led unto the devil instead
of God. Wherefore no greater indignity could be offered unto divine wisdom and holiness, than
there was in this rejection of the image of God wherein we were created.
[2.] There was no way left whereby glory might redound unto God from the remainder of the
creation here below. For the nature of man alone was designed to be the way and means of it, by
virtue of the image of God implanted on it. Wherefore man by sin did not only draw off himself
from that relation unto God wherein he was made, but drew off the whole creation here below
with himself into a uselessness unto his glory. And upon the entrance of sin, before the cure of our
apostasy was actually accomplished, the generality of mankind divided the creatures into two
sorts--those above, or the heavenly bodies, and those here below. Those of the first sort they
worshipped as their gods; and those of the other sort they abused unto their lusts. Wherefore God
was every way dishonored in and by them all, nor was there any glory given him on their account.
What some attempted to do of that nature, in a wisdom of their own, ended in folly and a renewed
dishonour of God; as the apostle declares, Rom. 1: 18,19, 21, 22.
But that which was the malignity and poison of this sin, was the contempt that was cast on the
holiness of God, whose representation, and all its express characters, were utterly despised and
rejected therein. Herein, then, lay the concernment of the holiness or righteousness of God in this
sin of our nature, which we are inquiring after. Unless some reparation be made for the indignity
cast upon it in the rejection of the image and representation of it--unless there be some way
whereby it may be more eminently exalted in the nature of man than it was debased and despised
in the same nature; it was just, equal, righteous with God--that which becomes the rectitude and
purity of his nature that mankind should perish eternally in that condition whereinto it was cast by
sin.
It was not, therefore, consistent with the glory of God, that mankind should be restored, that this
nature of ours should be brought unto the enjoyment of him, unless his holiness be more exalted,
be more conspicuously represented in the same nature, than ever it was depressed or despised
thereby. The demonstration of its glory in any other nature, as in that of angels, would not serve
unto this end; as we shall see afterward.
We must now a little return unto what we before laid down. Wisdom being the directive power of
all divine operations, and the end of all those operations being the glory of God himself, or the
demonstration of the excellencies of the holy properties of his nature, it was incumbent thereon to
provide for the honour and glory of divine holiness in an exaltation answerable unto the attempt
for its debasement. Without the consideration hereof, we can have no due prospect of the acting
of infinite wisdom in this great work of our redemption and recovery by the incarnation of the Son
of God.
- (3.) Sin brought disorder and disturbance into the whole rule and government of God. It was
necessary, from the infinite wisdom of God, that all things should be made in perfect order and
harmony--all in a direct subordination unto his glory. There could have been no original defect in
the natural or moral order of things, but it must have proceeded from a defect in wisdom; for the
disposal of all things into their proper order belonged unto the contrivance thereof. And the
harmony of all things among themselves, with all their mutual relations and aspects in a regular
tendency unto their proper and utmost end--whereby though every individual subsistence or being
has a peculiar end of its own, yet all their actings and all their ends tend directly unto one utmost
common end of them all--is the principal effect of wisdom. And thus was it at the beginning, when
God himself beheld the universe, and, "lo, it was exceeding good."
All things being thus created and stated, it belonged unto the nature of God to be the rector and
disposer of them all.
It was not a mere free act of his will, whereby God chose to rule and govern the creation
according unto the law of the nature of all things, and their relation unto him; but it was
necessary, from his divine being and excellences, that so he should do. Wherefore, it concerned
both the wisdom and righteousness of God to take care that either all things should be preserved
in the state wherein they were created, and no disorder be suffered to enter into the kingdom and
rule of God, or that, in a way suited unto them, his glory should be retrieved and re established;
for God is not the God of confusions neither the author nor approver of it--neither in his works
nor in his rule. But sin actually brought disorder into the kingdom and rule of God. And this it did
not in any one particular instance, but that which was universal as unto all things here below. For
the original harmony and order of all things consisted in their subordination unto the glory of
God. But this they all lost, as was before declared. Hence he who looked on them in their
constitution, and, to manifest his complacency in them, affirmed them to be "exceeding good,"
immediately on the entrance of sin, pronounced a curse on the whole earth, and all things
contained therein.
To suffer this disorder to continue unrectified, was not consistent with the wisdom and
righteousness of God. It would make the kingdom of God to be like that of Satan--full of
darkness and confusion. Nothing is more necessary unto the good of the universe, and without
which it were better it were annihilated, than the preservation of the honour of God in his
government. And this could no otherwise be done, but by the infliction of a punishment
proportionable in justice unto the demerit of sin. Some think this might be done by a free
dismission of sin, or a passing it over without any punishment at all. But what evidence should we
then have that good and evil were not alike, and almost equal unto God in his rule that he does
not like sin as well as uprightness? Nor would this supposition leave any grounds of exercising
justice among men. For if God, in misrule of all things, dismissed the greatest sin without any
penalty inflicted, what reason have we to judge that evils among ourselves should at all be
punished? That, therefore, be far from God, that the righteous should be as the wicked: "Shall not
the Judge of all the earth do right?"
Wherefore, the order of God's rule being broken, as it consisted in the regular obedience of the
creature, and disorder with confusion being brought thereby into the kingdom and government of
God; his righteousness, as it is the rectorial virtue and power of the divine nature, required that his
glory should be restored, by reducing the sinning creature again into order by punishment. Justice,
therefore, must be answered and complied withal herein, according unto its eternal and
unanswerable law, in a way suited unto the glory of God, or the sinning creature must perish
eternally.
Herein the righteousness of God, as the rectorial virtue of the divine nature, was concerned in the
sin and apostasy of men. The vindication and glory of it--to provide that in nothing it were
eclipsed or diminished--was incumbent on infinite wisdom, according unto the rule before laid
down. That must direct and dispose of all things anew unto the glory of the righteousness of God,
or there is no recovery of mankind. And in our inquiry after the impressions of divine wisdom on
the great and glorious means of our restoration under consideration, this provision made thereby
for the righteousness of God, in his rule and government of all, is greatly to be attended
to.
- (4.) Man by sin put himself into the power of the devil, God's greatest adversary. The devil
had newly, by rebellion and apostasy from his first condition, cast himself under the eternal
displeasure and wrath of God. God had righteously purposed in himself not to spare him, nor
contrive any way for his deliverance unto eternity. He, on the other side, was become obdurate in
his malice and hatred of God, designing his dishonour and the impeachment of his glory with the
utmost of his remaining abilities. In this state of things, man voluntarily leaves the rule and
conduct of God, with all his dependence upon him, and puts himself into the power of the devil;
for he believed Satan above God--that is, placed his faith and confidence in him, as unto the way
of attaining blessedness and true happiness. And in whom we place our trust and confidence, them
do we obey, whatever we profess. Herein did God's adversary seem for a season to triumph
against him, as if he had defeated the great design of his goodness, wisdom, and power. So he
would have continued to do, if no way had been provided for his appointment.
This, therefore, also belonged unto the care of divine wisdom, namely, that the glory of God in
none of the holy properties of his nature did suffer any diminution hereby.
All this, and inconceivable more than we are able to express, being contained in the sin of our
apostasy from God, it must needs follow that the condition of all mankind became thereby
inexpressibly evil. As we had done all the moral evil which our nature was capable to act, so it
was meet we should receive all the penal evil which our nature was capable to undergo; and it all
issued in death temporal and eternal, inflicted from the wrath of God.
This is the first thing to be considered in our tracing the footsteps of divine wisdom in our
deliverance by the incarnation of the Son of God. Without due conceptions of the nature of this
sin and apostasy of the provocation given unto God thereby, of the injury attempted to be done
unto the glory of all his properties, of his concernment in their reparation, with the unspeakable
misery that mankind was fallen into-- we cannot have the least view of the glorious acting of
divine wisdom in our deliverance by Christ; and, therefore, the most of those who are insensible of
these things, do wholly reject the principal instances of infinite wisdom in our redemption; as we
shall yet see farther afterward. And the great reason why the glory of God in Christ does so little
irradiate the minds of many, that it is so much neglected and despised, is because they are not
acquainted nor affected with the nature of our first sin and apostasy, neither in itself nor its woeful
effects and consequent.
But, on the supposition of these things, a double inquiry ariseth with reference unto the wisdom of
God, and the other holy properties of his nature immediately concerned in our sin and
apostasy.
- Whereas man by sin had defaced the image of God, and lost it, whereby there was no
representation of his holiness and righteousness left in the whole creation here below--no way of
rendering any glory to him, in, for, or by, any other of his works--no means to bring man unto the
enjoyment of God, for which he was made;--and whereas he had brought confusion and disorder
into the rule and kingdom of God, which, according unto the law of creation and its sanction,
could not be rectified but by the eternal ruin of the sinner; and had, moreover, given up himself
unto the rule and conduct of Satan:--whether, I say, hereon it was meet, with respect unto the
holy properties of the divine nature, that all mankind should be left eternally in this condition,
without remedy or relief? Or whether there were. not a condecency and suitableness unto them,
that at least our nature in some portion of it should be restored?
- Upon a supposition that the granting of a recovery was suited unto the holy perfections of the
divine nature, acting themselves by infinite wisdom, what rays of that wisdom may we discern in
the finding out and constitution of the way and means of that recovery?
The first of these I shall speak briefly unto in this place, because I have treated more largely
concerning it in another. For there are many things which argue a condecency unto the divine
perfections herein--namely, that mankind should not be left utterly remediless in that guilt of
misery whereinto it was plunged. I shall at present only insist on one of them.
God had originally created two sorts of intellectual creatures, capable of the eternal enjoyment of
himself--namely, angels and men. That he would so make either sort or both, was a mere effect of
his sovereign wisdom and pleasure; but on a supposition that he would so make them, they must
be made for his glory. These two sorts thus created he placed in several habitations, prepared for
them, suitable unto their natures and the present duties required of them; the angels in heaven
above, and men on earth below. Sin first invaded the nature of angels, and cast innumerable
multitudes of them out of their primitive condition. Hereby they lost their capacity of, and right
unto, that enjoyment of God which their nature was prepared and made meet for; neither would
God ever restore them thereunto. And in the instance of dealing with them, when he "spared them
not, but shut them up in chains of everlasting darkness unto the judgement of the great day," he
manifested how righteous it was to leave sinning, apostate creatures in everlasting misery. If
anything of relief be provided for any of them, it is a mere effect of sovereign grace and wisdom,
whereunto God was no way obliged. Howbeit, the whole angelical nature, that was created in a
capacity for the eternal enjoyment of God, perished not; nor does it seem consistent with the
wisdom and goodness of God, that the whole entire species or kind of create made capable of
glory in the eternal enjoyment of him, should at once immediately be excluded from it. That such a
thing should fall out as it were accidentally, without divine provision and disposal, would argue a
defect in wisdom, and a possibility of a surprisal into the loss of the whole glory he designed in
the creation of all things; and to have it a mere effect of divine ordination and disposal, is as little
consistent with his goodness. Wherefore, the same nature which sinned and perished in the angels
that fell, abideth in the enjoyment of God in those myriads of blessed spirits which "left not their
first habitation."
The nature of man was in like manner made capable of the eternal enjoyment of God. This was
the end for which it was created, unto the glory of him by whom it was made; for it became the
divine wisdom and goodness, to give unto everything an operation and end suited unto its
capacity. And these, in this race of intellectual creatures, were to live unto God, and to come unto
the eternal enjoyment of him. This operation and end their nature being capable of, they being
suited unto it, unto them it was designed. But sin entered them also; we also "sinned, and came
short of the glory of God." The inquiry hereon is, whether it became the divine goodness and
wisdom that this whole nature, in all that were partakers of it, should fail and come short of that
end for which alone it was made of God? For whereas the angels stood, in their primitive
condition, every one in his own individual person, the sin of some did not prejudice others, who
did not sin actually themselves. But the whole race of mankind stood all in one common head and
state; from whom they were to be educed and derived by natural generation. The sin and apostasy
of that one person was the sin and apostasy of us all. In him all sinned and died. Wherefore, unless
there be a recovery made of them, or of some from among them, that whole species of intellectual
nature--the whole kind of it, in all its individuals--which was made capable of doing the will of
God, so as to come unto the eternal fruition of him, must be eternally lost and excluded from it.
This, we may say, became not the wisdom and goodness of God, no more than it would hays
done to have suffered the whole angelical nature, in all its individuals, to have perished for ever.
No created understanding could have been able to discern the glory of God in such a dispensation,
whereby it would have had no glory. That the whole nature, in all the individuals of it, which was
framed by the power of God out of nothing, and made what it was for this very end, that it might
glorify him, and come unto the enjoyment of him, should eternally perish, if any way of relief for
any portion of it were possible unto infinite wisdom, does not give an amiable representation of
the divine excellencies unto us.
It was therefore left on the provision of infinite wisdom, that this great effect, of recovering a
portion of fallen mankind out of this miserable estate, wherein there was a suitableness, a
condecency unto the divine excellencies, should be produced; only, it was to be done on and by a
free act of the will of God; for otherwise there was no obligation on him from any of his
properties so to do.
But it may be yet said, on the other side, that the nature of man was so defiled, so depraved, so
corrupted, so alienated and separated from God, so obnoxious unto the curse by its sin and
apostasy, , that it was not reparable to the glory of God; and therefore it would not argue any
defect in divine power, nor any unsuitableness unto divine wisdom and goodness, if it were not
actually repaired and restored. I answer two things,
- (1.) The horrible nature of the first sin, and the heinousness of our apostasy from God
therein, were such and so great, as that God thereon might righteously, and suitably unto all the
holy properties of his nature, leave mankind to perish eternally in that condition whereinto they
had cast themselves; and if he had utterly forsaken the whole race of mankind in that condition,
and left them all as remediless as the fallen angels, there could have been no reflection on his
goodness, and an evident suitableness unto his justice and holiness. Wherefore, wherever there is
any mention in the Scripture of the redemption or restoration of mankind, it is constantly
proposed as an effect of mere sovereign grace and mercy. See Eph 1: 3-11. And those who
pretend a great difficulty at present, in the reconciliation of the eternal perishing of the greatest
part of mankind with those notions we have of the divine goodness, seem not to have sufficiently
considered what was contained in our original apostasy from God, nor the righteousness of God
in dealing with the angels that sinned. For when man had voluntarily broken all the relation of love
and moral good between God and him, had defaced his image--the only representation of his
holiness and righteousness in this lower world-- and deprived him of all his glory from the works
of his hands, and had put himself into the society and under the conduct of the devil; what
dishonour could it have been unto God, what diminution would there have been of his glory, if he
had left him unto his own choice--to eat for ever of the fruit of his own ways, and to be filled with
his own devices unto eternity? It is only infinite wisdom that could find out a way for the salvation
of any one of the whole race of mankind, so as that it might be reconciled unto the glory of his
holiness, righteousness, and rule. Wherefore, as we ought always to admire sovereign grace in the
few that shall be saved, so we have no ground to reflect on divine goodness in the multitudes that
perish, especially considering that they all voluntarily continue in their sin and apostasy.
- (2.) I grant the nature of man was not reparable nor recoverable by any such actings of the
properties of God as he had exerted in the creation and rule of all things. Were there not other
properties of the divine nature than what were discovered and revealed in the creation of all--were
not some of them so declared capable of an exercise in another way or in higher degrees than
what had as yet been instanced in--it must be acknowledged that the reparation of mankind could
not be conceived compliant with the divine excellencies, nor to be effected by them. I shall give
one instance in each sort; namely, first in properties of another kind than any which had been
manifested in the works of creation, and then the acting of some of them so manifested, in another
way, or farther degree than what they were before exerted in or by.
- [1.] Of the first sort are love, grace, and mercy, which I refer unto one head--nature being
the same, as they have respect unto sinners. For although there were none of them manifested in
the works of creation, yet are they no less essential properties of the divine nature than either
power, goodness, or wisdom. With these it was that the reparation of our nature was compliant--
unto them it had a condecency; and the glory of them infinite wisdom designed therein. That
wisdom, on which it is incumbent to provide for the manifestation of all the other properties of
God's nature, contrived this work unto the glory of his love, mercy, and grace; as in the gospel it
is everywhere declared.
- [2.] Of the second sort is divine goodness. This, as the communicative property of the divine
nature, had exerted itself in the creation of all things. Howbeit, it had not done so perfectly--it had
not done so to the uttermost. But the nature of goodness being communicative, it belongs unto its
perfection to act itself unto the uttermost. This it had not yet done in the creation. Therein "God
made man," and acted his goodness in the communication of our being unto us, with all its
endowments. But there yet remained another effect of it; which was, that God should be made
man, as the way unto, and the means of, our recovery.
These things being premised, we proceed to inquire more particularly by what way and means the
recovery of mankind might be wrought, so as that God might be glorified thereby.
If fallen man be restored and reinstated in his primitive condition, or brought into a better, it must
either be by himself, or by some other undertaking for him; for it must be done by some means or
other. So great an alteration in the whole state of things was made by the entrance of sin, that it
was not consistent with the glory of any of the divine excellencies that a restoration of all things
should be made by a mere act of power, without the use of any means for the removal of the
cause of that alteration. That man himself could not be this means--that is, that he could not
restore himself--is openly evident. Two ways there were whereby he might attempt it, and neither
jointly nor severally could he do anything in them.
- 1. He might do it by returning unto obedience unto God on his own accord. He fell off from
God on his own accord by disobedience, through the suggestion of Satan; wherefore, a voluntary
return unto his former obedience would seem to reduce all things unto their first estate. But this
way was both impossible, and, upon a supposition of it, would have been insufficient unto the end
designed. For,
- (1.) This he could not do. He had, by his sin and fall, lost that power whereby he was able to
yield any acceptable obedience unto God; and a return unto obedience is an act of greater power
than a persistency in the way and course of it, and more is required thereunto. But all man's
original power of obedience consisted in the image of God. This he had defaced in himself, and
deprived himself of. Having, therefore, lost that power which should have enabled him to live
unto God in his primitive condition, he could not retain a greater power in the same kind to return
thereunto. This, indeed, was that which Satan deceived and deluded him withal; namely, that by
his disobedience he should acquire new light and power, which he had not yet received--he should
be "like unto God." But he was so far from any advantage by his apostasy, that one part of his
misery consisted in the loss of all power or ability to live to God.
This is the folly of that Pelagian heresy, which is now a third time attempting to impose itself on
the Christian world. It supposeth that men have a power of their own to return unto God, after
they had lost the power they had of abiding with him. It is not, indeed, as yet, pretended by many
that the first sin was a mere transient act, that no way vitiated our nature, or impaired the power,
faculty, or principle of obedience in us. A wound, they say, a disease, a weakness, it brought upon
us, and rendered us legally obnoxious unto death temporal, which we were naturally liable unto
before. Wherefore, it is not said that men can return unto that perfect obedience which the law
required; but that they can comply with and perform that which the gospel requireth in the room
thereof. For they seem to suppose that the gospel is not much more but an accommodation of the
rule of obedience unto our present reason and abilities, with some motives unto it, and an example
for it in the personal obedience and suffering of Christ. For whereas man forsook the law of
obedience first prescribed unto him, and fell into various incapacities of observing it, God did not,
as they suppose, provide, in and by the gospel, a righteousness whereby the law might be fulfilled,
and effectual grace to raise up the nature of man unto the performance of acceptable obedience;
but only brings down the law and the rule of it into a compliance unto our weakened, diseased,
depraved nature,--than which, if anything can be spoken more dishonourably of the Gospel, I
know it not. However, this pretended power of returning unto some kind of obedience, but not
that which was required of us in our primitive condition, is no way sufficient unto our restoration;
as is evident unto all.
- (2.) As man could not effect his own recovery, so he would not attempt it. For he was fallen
into that condition wherein, in the principles of all his moral operations, he was at enmity against
God; and whatever did befall him, he would choose to continue in his state of apostasy; for he
was wholly "alienated from the life of God." He likes it not, as that which is incompliant with his
dispositions, inclinations, and desires--as inconsistent with everything wherein he placeth his
interest. And hence, as he *cannot* do what he *should* through *impotency*, he *will* not do
even what he *can* through *obstinacy*. It may be, we know not distinctly what to ascribe unto
man's impotency, and what unto his obstinacy; but between both, he neither can nor will return
unto God. And his power unto good, though not sufficient to bring him again unto God, yet is it
not so small but that he always chooseth not to make use of it unto that end. In brief, there was
left in man a fear of divine power--a fear of God because of his greatness--which makes him do
many things which otherwise he would not do; but there is not left in him any love unto divine
goodness, without which he cannot choose to return unto God.
- (3.) But let us leave these things which men will dispute about, though in express
contradiction unto the Scripture and the experience of them that are wrought upon to believe; and
let us make an impossible supposition--that man could and would return unto his primitive
obedience; yet no reparation of the glory of God, suffering in the loss of the former state of all
things, would thereon ensue. What satisfaction would be hereby made for the injury offered unto
the holiness, righteousness, and wisdom of God, whose violation in their blessed effects was the
principal evil of sin? Notwithstanding such a supposition, all the disorder that was brought into
the rule and government of God by sin, with the reflection of dishonour upon him, in the rejection
of his image, would still continue. And such a restitution of things wherein no provision is made
for the reparation of the glory of God, is not to be admitted. The notion of it may possibly please
men in their apostate condition, wherein they are wholly turned off from God, and into self--not
caring what becomes of his glory, so it may go well with themselves; but it is highly contradictory
unto all equity, justice, and the whole reason of things, wherein the glory of God is the principal
and centre of all.
Practically, things are otherwise among many. The most profligate sinners in the world, that have
a conviction of an eternal condition, would be saved. Tell them it is inconsistent with the glory of
the holiness, righteousness, and truth of God, to save unbelieving, impenitent sinners--they are not
concerned in it. Let them be saved that is, eternally delivered from the evil they fear--and let God
look unto his own glory; they take no care about it. A soul that is spiritually ingenuous, would not
be saved in any way but that whereby God may be glorified. Indeed, to be saved, and not unto the
glory of God, implies a contradiction; for our salvation is eternal blessedness, in a participation of
the glory of God.
Secondly, It followeth, therefore, that man must make satisfaction unto the justice of God, and
thereby a reparation of his glory, that he may be saved. This, added unto a complete return unto
obedience, would effect a restitution of all things; it would do so as unto what was past, though it
would make no new addition of glory unto God. But this became not the nature and efficacy of
divine wisdom. It became it not merely to retrieve what was past, without a new manifestation
and exaltation of the divine excellencies. And therefore, in our restoration by Christ, there is such
a manifestation and exaltation of the divine properties as incomparably exceeds whatever could
have ensued on, or been effected by, the law of creation, had man continued in his original
obedience. But at present it is granted that this addition of satisfaction unto a return unto
obedience, would restore all things unto their just condition. But as that return was impossible
unto man, so was this satisfaction for the injury done by sin much more. For suppose a mere
creature, such as man is, such as all men are, in what condition you please, and under all
advantageous circumstances, yet, whatever he can do towards God is antecedently and absolutely
due from him in that instant wherein he does it, and that in the manner wherein it is done. They
must all say, when they have done all that they can do, "We are unprofitable servants; we have
done what was our duty." Wherefore, it is impossible that, by anything a man can do well, he
should make satisfaction for anything he has done ill. For what he so does is due in and for itself;
and to suppose that satisfaction will be made for a former fault by that whose omission would
have been another, had the former never been committed, is madness. An old debt cannot be
discharged with ready money for new commodities; nor can past injuries be compensated by
present duties, which we are anew obliged unto. Wherefore--mankind being indispensably and
eternally obliged unto the present performance of all duties of obedience unto God, according to
the utmost of their capacity and ability, so as that the non-performance of them in their season,
both as unto their matter and manner, would be their sin--it is utterly impossible that by anything,
or all that they can do, they should make the least satisfaction unto God for anything they have
done against him; much less for the horrible apostasy whereof we treat. And to attempt the same
end by any way which God has not appointed, which he has not made their duty, is a new
provocation of the highest nature. See Micah 6:6-8.
It is therefore evident, on all these considerations, that all mankind, as unto any endeavours of
their own, anything that can be fancied as possible for them to design or do, must be left
irreparable, in a condition of eternal misery. And unless we have a full conviction hereof, we can
neither admire nor entertain the mystery of the wisdom of God in our reparation. And therefore it
has been the design of Satan, in all ages, to contrive presumptuous notions of men's spiritual
abilities--to divert their minds from the contemplation of the glory of divine wisdom and grace, as
alone exalted in our recovery.
We are proceeding on this supposition, that there was a condecency unto the holy perfections of
the divine nature, that mankind should be restored, or some portion of it recovered unto the
enjoyment of himself; so angelical nature was preserved unto the same end in those that did not
sin. And we have showed the general grounds whereon it is impossible that fallen man should
restore or recover himself. Wherefore we must, in the next place, inquire what is necessary unto
such a restoration, on the account of that concernment of the divine excellencies in the sin and
apostasy of man which we have stated before; for hereby we may obtain light, and an insight into
the glory of that wisdom whereby it was contrived and effected. And the things following, among
others, may be observed under that end:
- 1. It was required that there should be an obedience yielded unto God, bringing more glory
unto him than dishonour did arise and accrue from the disobedience of man This was due unto the
glory of divine holiness in giving of the law. Until this was done, the excellency of the law, as
becoming the holiness of God, and as an effect thereof, could not be made manifest. For if it were
never kept in any instance, never fulfilled by any one person in the world, how should the glory of
it be declared?--How should the holiness of God be represented by it? How should it be evident
that the transgression of it was not rather from some defect in the law itself, than from any evil in
them that should have yielded obedience unto it? The obedience yielded by the angels that stood
and sinned not, made it manifest that the transgression of it by them that fell and sinned was from
their own wills, and not from any unsuitableness unto their nature and state in the law itself. But if
the law given unto man should never be complied withal in perfect obedience by any one
whatever, it might be thought that the law itself was unsuited unto our nature, and impossible to
be complied withal. Nor did it become infinite wisdom to give a law whose equity, righteousness,
and holiness, should never be exemplified in obedience--should never be made to appear but in the
punishment inflicted on its transgressors. Wherefore the original law of personal righteousness
was not given solely nor primarily that men might suffer justly for its transgression, but that God
might be gloried in its accomplishment. If this be not done, it is impossible that men should be
restored unto the glory of God. If the law be not fulfilled by obedience, man must suffer evermore
for his disobedience, or God must lose the manifestation of his holiness therein. Besides, God had
represented his holiness in that image of it which was implanted on our nature, and which was the
principle enabling us unto obedience. This also was rejected by sin, and therein the holiness of
God despised. If this be not restored in our nature, and that with advantages above what it had in
its first communication, we cannot be recovered unto the glory of God.
- 2. It was necessary that the disorder brought into the rule and government of God by sin and
rebellion should be rectified. This could no otherwise be done but by the infliction of that
punishment which, in the unalterable rule and standard of divine justice, was due thereunto. The
dismission of sin on any other terms would leave the rule of God under unspeakable dishonour
and confusion; for where is the righteousness of government, if the highest sin and provocation
that our nature was capable of, and which brought confusion on the whole creation below, should
for ever go unpunished? The first express intimation that God gave of his righteousness in the
government of mankind, was his threatening a punishment equal unto the demerit of disobedience,
if man should fall into it: "In the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt die." If he revoke and disannul
this sentence, how shall the glory of his righteousness in the rule of all be made known? But how
this punishment should be undergone, which consisted in man's eternal ruin, and yet man be
eternally saved, was a work for divine wisdom to contrive. This, therefore, was necessary unto the
honour of God's righteousness, as he is the supreme governor and Judge of all the earth.
- 3. It was necessary that Satan should be justly despoiled of his advantage and power over
mankind, unto the glory of God; for he was not to be left to triumph in his success. And inasmuch
as man was, on his part, rightfully given up unto him, his deliverance was not to be wrought by an
act of absolute dominion and power, but in a way of justice and lawful judgement; which things
shall be afterward spoken unto.
Without these things the recovery of mankind into the favour and unto the enjoyment of God was
utterly impossible, on the account of the concernment of the glory of his divine perfections in our
sin and apostasy.
How all this might be effected--how the glory of the holiness and righteousness of God in his law
and rule, and in the punitive constitution of our nature, might be repaired--how his goodness,
love, grace, and mercy, might be manifested and exalted in this work of the reparation of
mankind--was left unto the care and contrivance of infinite wisdom. From the eternal springs
thereof must this work arise, or cease for ever.
To trace some of the footsteps of divine wisdom herein, in and from the revelation of it by its
effects, is that which lieth before us. And sundry things appear to have been necessary
hereunto.
- 1. That all things required unto our restoration, the whole work wherein they consist, must
be wrought in our own nature--in the nature that had sinned, and which was to be restored and
brought unto glory. On supposition, I say, of the salvation of our nature, no satisfaction can be
made unto the glory of God for the sin of that nature, but in the nature itself that sinned and is to
be saved. For whereas God gave the law unto man as an effect of his wisdom and holiness, which
he transgressed in his disobedience, wherein could the glory of them or either of them be exalted,
if the same law were complied withal and fulfilled in and by a nature of another kind--suppose that
of angels? For, notwithstanding any such obedience, yet the law might be unsuited unto the nature
of man, whereunto it was originally prescribed. Wherefore, there would be a veil drawn over the
glory of God in giving the law unto man, if it were not fulfilled by obedience in the same nature;
nor can there be any such relation between the obedience and sufferings of one nature in the stead
and for the disobedience of another, as that glory might ensue unto the wisdom, holiness, and
justice of God, in the deliverance of that other nature thereon.
The Scripture abounds in the declaration of the necessity hereof, with its condecency unto divine
wisdom. Speaking of the way of our relief and recovery, "Verily," says the apostle, "he took not
on him the nature of angels," Heb. 2:16. Had it been the recovery of angels which he designed, he
would have taken their nature on him. But this would have been no relief at all unto us, no more
than the assuming of our nature is of advantage unto the fallen angels. The obedience and
sufferings of Christ therein extended not at all unto them--nor was it just or equal that they should
be relieved thereby. What, then, was required unto our deliverance? Why, saith he, "Forasmuch as
the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same,"
verse 14. It was human nature (here expressed by flesh and blood) that was to be delivered; and
therefore it was human nature wherein this deliverance was to be wrought. This the same apostle
disputes at large, Rom. 5: 12-19. The sum is, that "as by one man's disobedience many were made
sinners; so by the obedience of one" (of one man, Jesus Christ, verse 15) "are many made
righteous." The same nature that sinned must work out the reparation and recovery from sin. So
he affirms again, 1 Cor. 15: 21, "For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection
of the dead." No otherwise could our ruin be retrieved, nor our deliverance from sin with all the
consequents of it be effected,--which came by man, which were committed and deserved in and by
our nature,--but by man, by one of the same nature with us. This, therefore, in the first place,
became the wisdom of God, that the world of deliverance should be wrought in our own nature,--
in the nature that had sinned.
- 2. That part of human nature wherein or whereby this work was to be effected, as unto the
essence or substance of it, was to be derived from the common root or stock of the same nature,
in our first parents. It would not suffice hereunto that God should create a man, out of the dust of
the earth or out of nothing, of the same nature in general with ourselves; for there would be no
cognation or alliance between him and us, so that we should be any way concerned in what he did
or suffered: for this advance depends solely hereon, that God " has made of one blood all nations
of men," Acts 17: 26. Hence it is that the genealogy of Christ is given us in the a~-- not only from
Abraham, to declare the faithfulness of God in the promise that he should be of his seed, but from
Adam also, to manifest his relation unto the common stock of our nature, and unto all mankind
therein.
The first discovery of the wisdom of God herein was in that primitive revelation, that the
Deliverer should be of "the seed of the woman," Gen. 3: 15. No other but he who was so could
"break the serpent's head," or "destroy the work of the devil," so as that we might be delivered
and restored. He was not only to be partaker of our nature, but he was so to be, by being "the
seed of the woman," Gal. 4: 4. He was not to be created out of nothing, nor to be made of the
dust of the earth, but so "made of a woman," as that thereby be might receive our nature from the
common root and spring of it. Thus "he who sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of
one," Heb. 2:11,-- "ex henos"; that is, "furamatos"--of the same mass, of one nature and blood;
whence he is not ashamed to call them brethren. This also was to be brought forth from the
treasures of infinite wisdom.
- 3. This nature of ours, wherein the work of our recovery and salvation is to be wrought and
performed, was not to be so derived from the original stock of our kind or race as to bring along
with it the same taint of sin, and the same liableness unto guilt, upon its own account, as
accompany every other individual person in the world; for, as the apostle speaks, "such a high
priest became us" (and as a high priest was he to accomplish this work) "as was holy, harmless,
undefiled, separate from sinners." For, if this nature in him were so defiled as it is in us--if it were
under a deprivation of the image of God, as it is in our persons before our renovation--it could do
nothing that should be acceptable unto him. And if it were subject unto guilt on its own account,
it could make no satisfaction for the sin of others. Here, therefore, again occurs "dignus vindice
nodus"--a difficulty which nothing but divine wisdom could expedite.
To take a little farther view hereof, we must consider on what grounds these things (spiritual
defilement and guilt) do adhere unto our nature, as they are in all our individual persons. And the
first of these is--that our entire nature, as unto our participation of it, was in Adam, as our head
and representative. Hence his sin became the sin of us all--justly imputed unto us and charged on
us. In him we all sinned; all did so who were in him as their common representative when he
sinned. Hereby we became the natural "children of wrath," or liable unto the wrath of God for the
common sin of our nature, in the natural and legal head or spring of it. And the other is--that we
derive our nature from Adam by the way of natural generation. By that means alone is the nature
of our first parents, as defiled, communicated unto us; for by this means do we become to
appertain unto the stock as it was degenerate and corrupt. Wherefore that part of our nature
wherein and whereby this great work was to be wrought, must, as unto its essence and substance,
be derived from our first parent,--yet so as never to have been in Adam as a common
representative, nor be derived from him by natural generation.
The bringing forth of our nature in such an instance--wherein it should relate no less really and
truly unto the first Adam than we do ourselves, whereby there is the strictest alliance of nature
between him so partaker of it and us, yet so as not in the least to participate of the guilt of the first
sin, nor of the defilement of our nature thereby must be an effect of infinite wisdom beyond the
conceptions of any created understanding. And this, as we know, was done in the person of
Christ; for his human nature was never in Adam as his representative, nor was he comprised in the
covenant wherein he stood. For he derived it legally only from and after the first promise, when
Adam ceased to be a common person. Nor did it proceed from him by natural generation--the
only means of the derivation of its depravation and pollution; for it was a "holy thing," created in
the womb of the Virgin by the power of the Most High. "O the depths of the wisdom and
knowledge of God!"
It was necessary, therefore, on all these considerations--it was so unto the glory of the holy
properties of the divine nature, and the reparation of the honour of his holiness and righteousness-
-that he by whom the work of our recovery was to be wrought should be a man, partaker of the
nature that sinned, yet free from all sin, and all the consequent of it. And this did divine wisdom
contrive and accomplish in the human nature of Jesus Christ.
But yet, in the second place, on all the considerations before mentioned, it is no less evident that
this work could not be wrought or effected by him who was no more than a mere man, who had
no nature but ours--who was a human person, and no more. There was no one act which he was
to perform, in order unto our deliverance, but did require a divine power to render it efficacious.
But herein lies that great mystery of godliness whereunto a continual opposition has been made by
the gates of hell; as we manifested in the entrance of this discourse. But whereas it belongs unto
the foundation of our faith, we must inquire into it, and confirm the truth of it with such
demonstrations as divine revelation does accommodate us withal. And three things are to be
spoken unto.
First, We are to give in rational evidences that the recovery of mankind was not to be
effected by any one who was a mere man, and no more, though it were absolutely necessary that a
man he should be; he must be God also.
Secondly, We must inquire into the suitableness or condecency unto divine wisdom in
the redemption and salvation of the church by Jesus Christ, who was God and man in one person;
and thereon give a description of the person of Christ and its constitution, which suiteth all the
ends of infinite wisdom in this glorious work. The first of these falls under sundry plain
demonstrations.
1. That human nature might be restored, or any portion of mankind be eternally saved unto the
glory of God, it was necessary, as we proved before, that an obedience should be yielded unto
God and his law, which should give and bring more glory and honour unto his holiness than there
was dishonour reflected on it by the disobedience of us all. Those who are otherwise minded care
not what becomes of the glory of God, so that wicked, sinful man may be saved one way or other.
But these thoughts spring out of our apostasy, and belong not unto that estate wherein we loved
God above all, and preferred his glory above all,--as it was with us at the first, in the original
constitution of our nature. But such an obedience could never be yielded unto God by any mere
creature whatever,--not by any one who was only a man, however dignified and exalted in state
and condition above all others. For to suppose that God should be pleased and glorified with the
obedience of any one man, more than he was displeased and dishonored by the disobedience of
Adam and all his posterity, is to fancy things that have no ground in reason or justice, or are any
way suitable unto divine wisdom and holiness. He who undertaketh this work must have
somewhat that is divine and infinite, to put an infinite value on his obedience--that is, he must be
God.
2. The obedience of such a one, of a mere man, could have no influence at all on the recovery of
mankind, nor the salvation of the church. For, whatever it were, it would be all due from him for
himself, and so could only profit or benefit himself; for what is due from any on his own account,
cannot redound or be reckoned unto the advantage of another. But there is no mere creature, nor
can there be any such, but he is obliged for himself unto all the obedience unto God that he is
capable of the performance of in this world; as we have before declared. Yea, universal obedience,
in all possible instances, is so absolutely necessary unto him, as a creature made in dependence on
God, and for the enjoyment of him, that the voluntary omission of it, in any one instance, would
be a criminal disobedience, ruinous unto his own soul. Wherefore, no such obedience could be
accepted as any kind of compensation for the disobedience of others, or in their stead. He, then,
that performs this obedience must be one who was not originally obliged thereunto, on his own
account, or for himself. And this must be a divine person, and none other; for evermore creature is
so obliged. And there is nothing more fundamental in Gospel principles, than that the Lord Christ,
in his divine person, was above the law, and for himself owed no obedience thereunto; but by his
own condescension, as he was "made of a woman" for us, so he was "made under the law" for us.
And therefore, those by whom the divine person of Christ is denied, do all of them contend that
he yielded obedience unto God for himself, and not for us. But herein they bid defiance unto the
principal effect of divine wisdom, wherein God will be eternally glorified.
3. The people to be freed, redeemed, and brought unto glory, were great and innumerable; "a
great multitude, which no man can number," Rev. 7: 9. The sins which they were to be delivered,
ransomed, and justified from--for which a propitiation was to be made--were next unto absolutely
infinite. They wholly surpass the comprehension of any created understanding, or the compass of
imagination. And in every one of them there was something reductively infinite, as committed
against an infinite Majesty. The miseries which hereon all these persons were obnoxious unto
were infinite, because eternal; or all that evil which our nature is capable to suffer was by them all
eternally to be undergone.
By all these persons, in all these sins, there was an inroad made on the rule and government of
God, an affront given unto his justice, in the violation of his law; nor can any of them be delivered
from the consequent hereof in eternal misery, without a compensation and satisfaction made unto
the justice of God. To assert the contrary, is to suppose, that upon the matter it is all one to him
whether he be obeyed or disobeyed, whether he be honoured or dishonored, in and by his
creatures; and this is all one as to deny his very being, seeing it opposeth the glory of his essential
properties. Now, to suppose that a mere man, by his temporary suffering of external pains, should
make satisfaction unto the justice of God for all the sins of all these persons, so as it should be
right and just with him not only to save and deliver them from all the evils they were liable unto,
but also to bring them unto life and glory, is to constitute a mediation between God and man that
should consist in appearance and ostentation, and not be an effect of divine wisdom,
righteousness, and holiness, nor have its foundation in the nature and equity of things themselves.
For the things supposed will not be reduced unto any rules of justice or proportion, that one of
them should be conceived in any sense to answer unto the other, that is, there is nothing which
answers any rule, notions, or conceptions of justice--nothing that might be exemplary unto men in
the punishment of crimes, that the sins of an infinite number of men, deserving every one of them
eternal death, should be expiated by the temporary sufferings of one mere man, so as to
demonstrate the righteousness of God in the punishment of sin. But God does not do these things
for show or appearance, but according unto the real exigence of the holy properties of his nature.
And on that supposition, there must be a proportion between the things themselves--namely, the
sufferings of one and the deliverance of all.
Nor could the faith of man ever find a stable foundation to fix upon on the supposition before
mentioned. No faith is able to conflict with this objection, that the sufferings of one mere man
should be accepted with God as a just compensation for the sins of the whole church. Men who,
in things of this nature, satisfy themselves with notions and fancies, may digest such suppositions;
but those who make use of faith for their own delivery from under a conviction of sin, the nature
and demerit of it, with a sense of the wrath of God, and the curse of the law against it, can find no
relief in such notions or apprehensions. But it became the wisdom of God, in the dispensation of
himself herein unto the church, so to order things as that faith might have an immovable rock to
build upon. This alone it has in the person of Christ, God and man, his obedience and sufferings.
Wherefore, those by whom the divine nature of the Lord Christ is denied, do all of them
absolutely deny also that he made any satisfaction unto divine justice for sin. They will rather
swallow all the absurdities which the absolute dismission of sin without satisfaction or punishment
does bring along with it, than grant that a mere man could make any such satisfaction by his
temporary sufferings for the sins of the world. And, on the other hand, whoever does truly and
sincerely believe the divine person of Christ namely, that he was God and man in one person, and
as such a person acted in the whole work of mediation--he cannot shut his eyes against the
glorious light of this truth, that what he did and suffered in that work must have an intrinsic worth
and excellency in it, outbalancing all the evil in the sins of mankind-- that more honour and glory
accrued unto the holiness and law of God by his obedience than dishonour was cast on them by
the disobedience of Adam and all his posterity.
4. The way whereby the church was to be recovered and saved, was by such works and acting as
one should take on himself to perform in the way of an office committed unto him for that end.
For whereas man could not recover, ransom, nor save himself as we have proved, the whole must
be wrought for him by another. The undertaking hereof by another must depend on the infinite
wisdom, counsel, and pleasure of God, with the will and consent of him who was to undertake it.
So also did the constitution of the way and means in particular whereby this deliverance was to be
wrought. Hereon it became his office to do the things which were required unto that end. But we
have before proved, apart by itself, that no office unto this purpose could be discharged towards
God, or the whole church, by any one who was a man only. I shall not, therefore, here farther
insist upon it, although there be good argument in it unto our present purpose.
5. If man be recovered, he must be restored into the same state, condition, and dignity, wherein he
was placed before the fall. To restore him with any diminution of honour and blessedness was not
suited unto divine wisdom and bounty; yea, seeing it was the infinite grace, goodness, and mercy
of God to restore him, it seems agreeable unto the glory of divine excellencies in their operations,
that he should be brought into a better and more honourable condition than that which he had
lost. But before the fall, man was not subject nor obedient unto any but unto God alone.
Somewhat less he was in dignity than the angels; howbeit he owed them no obedience--they were
his fellow-servants. And as for all other things here below, they were made "subject unto him, and
put under his feet," he himself being in subjection unto God alone. But if he were deemed and
restored by one who was a mere creature, he could not be restored unto this state and dignity; for,
on all grounds of right and equity, he must owe all service and obedience unto him by whom he
was redeemed, restored, and recovered, as the author of the state wherein he is. For when we are
"bought with a price," we are not our own, as the apostle affirms, 1 Cor. 6: 19, 20. We are
therefore his who has bought us; and him are we bound to serve in our souls and bodies, which
are his. Accordingly, in the purchase of us, the Lord Christ became our absolute Lord, unto whom
we owe all religious subjection of soul and conscience, Rom. 14: 7-9. It would follow, therefore,
that if we were redeemed and recovered by the interposition of a mere creature--if such a one
were our Redeemer, Saviour, and Deliverer--into the service of a mere creature (that is, religious
service and obedience) we should be recovered. And so they believe who affirm the Lord Christ
to be a man, and no more. But, on this supposition, we are so far from an advancement in state
and dignity by our restoration, that we do not recover what we were first instated in. For it
belonged thereunto that we should owe religious service and obedience unto him alone who was
God by nature over all, blessed for ever. And they bring all confusion into Christian religion, who
make a mere creature the object of our faith, love, adoration, invocation, and all sacred worship.
But in our present restoration we are made subject anew, as unto religious service, only unto God
alone. Therefore the holy angels, the head of the creation, do openly disclaim any such service and
veneration from us, because they are only the fellow-servants of them that have the testimony of
Jesus, Rev. 19: 10. Nor has God put the "world to come," the gospel state of the church, into
subjection unto angels, or any other creature, but only unto the Son, who is Lord over his own
house, even he that made all things, who is God, Heb. 3: 4-6. Wherefore, we are restored into our
primitive condition, to be in spiritual subjection unto God alone. He, therefore, by whom we are
restored, unto whom we owe all obedience and religious service, is, and ought to be, God also.
And as they utterly overthrow the gospel who affirm that all the obedience of it is due unto him
who is a man, and no more--as do all by whom the divine nature of Christ is denied; so they
debase themselves beneath the dignity of the state of redemption, and cast dishonour on the
mediation of Christ, who subject themselves in any religious service to saints or angels, or any
other creatures whatever.
On these suppositions, which are full of light and evidence, infinite Wisdom did interpose itself, to
glorify all the other concerned excellencies of the glory of God, in such a way as might solve all
difficulties, and satisfy all the ends of God's glory, in the recovery and redemption of mankind.
The case before it was as followeth:
Man, by sin, had cast the most inconceivable dishonour on the righteousness, holiness, goodness,
and rule of God; and himself into the guilt of eternal ruin. In this state it became the wisdom and
goodness of God, neither to suffer the whole race of mankind to come short eternally of that
enjoyment of himself for which it was created, nor yet to deliver any one of them without a
retrieval of the eternal honour of his righteousness, holiness, and rule, from the diminution and
waste that was made of it by sin. As this could no way be done but by a full satisfaction unto
justice and an obedience unto the law, bringing and yielding more honour unto the holiness and
righteousness of God than they could any way lose by the sin and disobedience of man;--so this
satisfaction must be made, and this obedience be yielded, in and by the same nature that sinned or
disobeyed, whereby alone the residue of mankind may be interested in the benefits and effects of
that obedience and satisfaction. Yet was it necessary hereunto, that the nature wherein all this was
to be performed, though derived from the same common stock with that whereof in all our
persons we are partakers, should be absolutely free from the contagion and guilt which, with it
and by it, are communicated unto our persons from that common stock. Unless it were so, there
could be no undertaking in it for others--it would not be able to answer for itself. But yet, on all
these suppositions, no undertaking, no performance of duty, in human nature, could possibly yield
that obedience unto God, or make that satisfaction for sin, whereon the deliverance of others
might ensue, unto the glory of the holiness, righteousness, and rule of God.
In this state of things did infinite Wisdom interpose itself, in that glorious, ineffable contrivance of
the person of Christ or of the divine nature in the eternal Son of God and of ours in the same
individual person. Otherwise this work could not be accomplished,--at least all other ways are
hidden from the eyes of all living, no created understanding being able to apprehend any other
way whereby it might so have been, unto the eternal glory of God. This, therefore, is such an
effect of divine wisdom as will be the object of holy adoration and admiration unto eternity,--as
unto this life, bow little a portion is it we know of its excellency!
END of CHAPTER 16
RETURN TO | Table Of Contents, Prefatory Note, The Preface
|
| Chapters 1, 2, 3 |
| Chapters 4, 5, 6 |
| Chapters 7, 8, 9 |
| Chapters 10, 11, 12 |
| Chapter 13, 14, 15 |
GO TO | Chapters 17, 18 |
| Chapters 19, 20 |
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