SECT. 16, 17.] THE FATHER AND THE SON. 91
and glorify, one or more of his glorious properties, and the rest con- sequentially in and by them. So in some of his works he doth peculiarly glorify justice, in some mercy, in some his power. We may therefore, as to the end of this holy, eternal compact, con- sider what are those properties of the divine nature which were peculiarly engaged in it, and are peculiarly exerted in its execu- tion, and were therefore designed to be exalted in a peculiar manner. Now these are three:—(1.) Wisdom, attended with sove- reignty. (2.) Justice, springing from holiness. (3.) Grace, mercy, goodness, love, which are various denominations of the same divine excellency.
That this covenant sprang from these properties of the divine nature, that the execution of it is the work and effect of them all, and that it is designed to manifest and glorify them, or God in and by them, unto eternity, the Scripture doth fully declare.
(1.) The infinite, sovereign wisdom of God, even the Father, exerted itself—[1.] In passing by the angels in their fallen condi- tion, and fixing on the recovery of man, Heb, ii. 16; 2 Pet. ii. 4; Jude 6. [2.] In the projection or provision of the way in general to bring about the salvation of man, by the interposition of his Son, with what he did and suffered in the pursuit hereof, Acts ii. 23, iv. 28. [38.] In the disposal of all things in that way in such a holy and glorious order, as that marks and footsteps of infinite divine wisdom should be imprinted on every part and passage of it, 1 Cor. i. 23-31; Rom. xi. 33-36; Eph. i. 10, 11.
(2.) His justice, accompanied with or springing from holiness, gave as it were the especial determination unto the way to be in- sisted on for the accomplishment of the end aimed at, and it was effectually exerted in the execution of it; for upon a supposition that God would pardon and save sinners, it was his eternal justice which required that it should be brought about by the sufferings of the Son, and it was itself expressed and exercised in those sufferings, as we shall afterwards more fully declare, Rom. iii. 25, 26, viii. 3; Gal. iii. 13; 2 Cor. v. 21.
(3.) Grace, love, goodness, or mercy, chiefly induced unto the whole. And these the Scriptures most commonly cast the work upon, or resolve it into. See John iii. 16,17; Rom. v. 8, xi. 6; 1 Cor. i. 29-31; Eph. i. 5-7, iii. 7, 8.
In these things, in the exercise, manifestation, and exaltation, of these glorious excellencies of the divine nature, with their effects in and upon the obedience of angels and men, doth consist that peculiar glory which God, even the Father, aims at in this covenant, and which supplies the place of that security or advantage which amongst men is intended in such compacts.
17. There must also, moreover, be an especial and peculiar honour
92 FEDERAL TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN [EXERC. XXVIII.
of the Son, the other party covenanting, intended therein; and was so accordingly, and is in like manner accomplished. And this was twofold:—First, what he had conjunctly with the Father, as he is of the same nature with him, “over all, God blessed for ever;” for on this account the divine excellencies before mentioned belong unto him, or are his, and in their exaltation is he exalted. But as his under- taking herein was peculiar, so he was to have a peculiar honour and glory thereby, not as God, but as the Mediator of the covenant of grace, which sprang from hence. For the accomplishment of the ends of this covenant, as we shall see, he parted for a season with the glory of his interest in those divine perfections, emptying him- self, or making himself of no reputation, Phil. ii, 5-9. And he was to have an illustrious recovery of the glory of his interest in them, when he was “ declared to be the Son of God with power, by the resurrection from the dead,” Rom.i. 4, when he was again glori- fied with the Father, with that glory which he had with him before the world was, John xvii. 5,—namely, that peculiar glory which he had and assumed upon his undertaking to be a Saviour and Re- deemer unto mankind, then when his delights were with the sons of men, and he rejoiced before the Father, and was his delight on that account. And this, secondly, was attended with that peculiar glorious exaltation which in his human nature he received upon the accomplishment of the terms and conditions of this covenant. What this glory was, and wherein it doth consist, I have manifested at large in the Exposition on Heb. i. 3. See Isa. li. 12; Ps. ex. 1, 6, ii. 8, 9; Zech. ix. 10; Ps. lxxii. 8; Rom. xiv. 11; Isa. xlv. 23; Matt. xxviu. 18; Phil. u. 10; Heb. xii. 2, ete.
18. The manner how these things were to be accomplished,—that is, the condition and limitation of this covenant, as it had respect unto a prescription of personal obediencetand promises of reward,—is lastly to be considered; for herein lies the occasion and spring of the priesthood of Christ, which we are inquiring after.. And this sort of covenants hath most affinity unto those relations which are consti- tuted by the law of nature; for every natural relation, such as that of father and children, of man and wife, contains in it a covenant with respect unto personal services and rewards. Now, things were so disposed in this covenant, that on the account of bringing sinners unto obedience and glory, to the honour of God the Father, and of the peculiar and especial honour or glory that was proposed unto himself, he, the Son, should ‘do and undergo in his own person all and every thing which, in the wisdom, righteousness, holiness, and grace of God, was requisite or necessary unto that end, provided that the presence and assistance of the Father were with him, and that he accepted of him and his works.