This, then, must be interpreted: — [1.] As to Christ.
[2.] As to those who have benefit by him and interest in him. [1.] As to Christ. He was well pleased ; partly, as to the design — the reparation of lost mankind ; partly, as to the terms by which it should be brought about ; partly, as to the execution and manage- ment of it by Christ.
(1.) As to the design. God was well pleased that lapsed mankind should be restored. At the first, God was pleased with his creation, Exod. xxxi. 17. ' On the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed ; ' that is, recreated in the view of his works, as the effects of his wisdom, power, and goodness. And Ps. civ. 31, ' The Lord shall rejoice in his works.' The Lord saw all to be good in the beginning and working, not to be repented of. This was God's rest and Sabbath, to take delight in his Avorks. When he looked on it altogether, behold it was exceeding good ; but afterwards man, the ungrateful part of the crea- tion, though the masterpiece of it in this visible and lower world, fell from God his creator, and preferred the creature before him, to his loss and ruin ; then God was so far displeased that he had reason to
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wish the destruction of mankind. It is said, Gen. vi. 6, that ' it repented God that he had made man ; ' that is, he was displeased with us, estranged from us, no more contented with us than a man is in what he repenteth of. For, properly, God cannot repent ; but this is an expression to show how odious we were grown to him : Ps. xiv. 2, 3, ' The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and did seek after God. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy : there is none that doetli good, no, not one.' Alas ! there is a lamentable appearance of mankind to God's sight, now nothing good to be found in them ; an universal defection, both in piety and humanity. But then Christ undertook the reparation of mankind, and the design was pleasing to God, that he might not lose the glory of his creation, and all flesh be utterly destroyed : Col. i. 19, 20, ' It pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell ; and, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself.' The restoring of fallen man to friendship with God, and all things tending to it, were highly pleasing to God, namely, that Jesus Christ, the second person in the Trinity, should become a mediator ; for that end he had a great affection and liking to this thing : ivSoKTja-e, it is the same word used here, the thing is highly pleasing to God, that the breach should be made up ; that man, who had lost the image, favour, and fellowship with God, should be again restored, by renewing his heart, reconciling his person, and admitting him again into communion with God, who was so justly provoked by him. God stood in no need of our friendship, nor could any loss come to him by our hatred and enmity ; only it pleased the Father to take this way : Isa. liii. 10, for ' it pleased the Lord to bruise him ; he hath put him to grief : when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosj^er in liis hand.'
(2.) He is pleased with the terms. God, who is the supreme governor of the world, and the offended party, stood upon these terms, that the honour of his governing justice should be secured, and the repentance and reformation of man carried on. Strictly these must be done, or else man must lie under his eternal displeasure ; if one be done and not the other, no reconciliation can ensue. Now that God is highly pleased with the satisfaction and compensation made to his governing justice : Heb. x. 6, 7, ' In burnt-offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come to do thy will, 0 God ; ' ver. 10, 'By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Christ once for all.' God rejected all other sacrifices, but was fully satisfied with this, as enough to expiate the sin of man. Christ delighted to give it, and God delighted to accept of it. He paid a perfect ransom for us, besides or above which he craved no more, but rested fully content in it. For the other, the renovation of man's nature, to put him into a capacity to serve and please God, for God would not admit us to privileges without change of heart and dis- position : Acts V. 31 , ' God exalted him to be a prince and saviour, to give repentance and remission of sins.' In short, God is so satisfied with these terms, that (1.) He seeketh no further amends for all their