10. Again; the transactions before insisted on and declared are proposed to have been by the way of “ counsel,” for the accomplish- ment of the end designed in a covenant: Zech. vi. 13, Dinw nsy pM p2 IA. The counsel about peace-making between God and man was “between them both;” that is, the two persons spoken of, —namely, the Lord Jehovah, and he who was to be M¥, “ The Branch.” And this was not spoken of him absolutely as he was a man, or was to be a man, for so there was not properly 7$¥, or “counsel,” between God and him; “for who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?” Rom. xi. 34, And, besides, the Son in his human nature was merely the servant of the Father to do his will, Isa. xlii. 1. But God takes this counsel with him as he was his eternal Wisdom, only with respect unto his future incarnation ; for therein he was to be both the “Branch of the Lorn,” and “the fruit of the earth,” Isa. iv. 2. Hereunto regard also is had in his name: Isa. ix. 6, “ He shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor ;” for these titles, with those that follow, do not absolutely denote pro- perties of the divine nature, though they are such divine titles and attributes as cannot be ascribed unto any but to him who is God; but there is in them a respect unto the work which he had to do as he was to bea “child born” and “a son given” unto us. And on the same account ishe called “ The everlasting Father,” a name not pro- per unto the person of the Son with mere respect unto his personality. There is, therefore, a regard in it unto the work he had to do, which was to be a father unto all the elect of God. And therein also was he “ The Prince of Peace,’—he who is the procurer and establisher of peace between God and mankind. On the same account God speaking of him, says that he is 1")! 133 ‘Y4,—“My shepherd, and the man my fellow,” Zech. xiii. 7; such an one as with whom he had sweetened and rejoiced in secret counsel, as Ps. lv. 14, according unto what was before declared on Prov. viii, 30, 31.
86 FEDERAL TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN [EXERC. XXVIIL
11. Particularly, the will of the Father and Son concurred in this matter; which was necessary, that the covenant might be voluntary and of choice. And the original of the whole is referred to the will of the Father constantly. Hence our Lord Jesus Christ on all occa- ~ sions declares solemnly that he came to do the will of the Father: “ Lo, I come to do thy will, O God,” Ps. xl. 6-8; Heb. x. 5-10; for in this agreement the part of the enjoiner, prescriber, and promiser, whose will in all things is to be attended unto, is on the Father. And his will was naturally at a perfect liberty from engaging in that way of salvation which he accomplished by Christ. He was at liberty to have left all mankind under sin and the curse, as he did all the angels that fell; he was at liberty utterly to have destroyed the race of mankind that sprang from Adam in his fallen estate, either in the root of them, or in the branches when multiplied, as he almost did in the flood, and have created another stock or race of them unto his glory. And hence the acting of his will herein is expressed by grace,—which is free, or it is not grace,—and 1s said to proceed from leve acting by choice; all arguing the highest liberty in the will of the Father, John iii. 16; Eph. i. 6.
And the same is further evidenced by the exercise of his awtho- rity, both in the commission and commands that he gave unto the Son, as incarnate, for the discharge of the work that he had under- taken; for none puts forth his authority but voluntarily, or by and according unto his own will. Now, he both sent the Son, and sealed him, and gave him commands; which are all acts of choice and liberty, proceeding from sovereignty. Let none, then, once imagine that this work of entering into covenant about the salvation of mankind was any way necessary unto God, or that it was required by virtue of any of the essential properties of his nature, so that he must have done against them in doing otherwise. God was herein absolutely free, as he was also in his making of all things out of nothing. He could have left it undone without the least disadvantage unto his essential glory or contrariety unto his holy nature. Whatever, there- fore, we may afterwards assert concerning the necessity of satisfaction to be given unto his justice, upon the supposition of this covenant, yet the entering into this covenant, and consequently all that ensued thereon, is absolutely resolved into the mere will and grace of God.
12. The will of the Son also was distinct herein. In his divine nature and will he undertook voluntarily for the work of his person when the human nature should be united thereunto, which he deter- mined to assume; for what is spoken of the second person is spoken with respect unto his purpose to assume our nature, for the obedi- ence whereof, in all that was to be done upon it or by it, he under- took. This the Scripture fully declares, and that for a double end :—