domestic feuds, than to exert his authority for the rendering of them irreconcileable and eternal. But God commanded it ; and therefore it must, of neces- sity, have been right, whether we can explain the reasons of it or not. And the doctrine which it was intended to shadow forth is right, whether we can understand it or not. To exclude from salvation all who adhere to the covenant of works, and to save those only who lay hold on the covenant of grace, may appear unjust, severe, and partial: but we will undertake to vindicate it from all that can be said against it, even from every charge,
1. Of injustice —
[If it had pleased God to deal with fallen man precisely as he had dealt with fallen angels, what injustice would he have done to any ? Wherein did we merit an interposition in our favour more than they ? Why, when we had violated the old covenant, should he enter into a new covenant, where- by we might be restored to his favour ? Why, in order to render this measure consistent with his glorious perfections, should he give us his only-begotten Son to bear our sins, and to effect a reconciliation for us through the blood of his cross ? Could we claim any such mercy at his hands ? Or, could any one have had reason to complain, if no such mercy had been ever manifested ? What injustice, then, can be done to any one, by confining mercy to this particular channel ; and by requiring this new covenant in Christ Jesus to be made our hope and our plea, in order to our participation of its benefits ? If we neither had, nor could have, any claim for mercy at all, we certainly can have no ground for complaint against God, for offering it in a way honourable to himself; and not granting it in a way of our own, that would reflect dishonour on every one of his perfections.]
2. Of severity —
[Though the shutting up of mankind to one only way of salvation may not be altogether unjust, yet it may be deemed somewhat unmerciful and severe ; because it makes the rejec- tion of that salvation a fresh ground of offence, and involves the offender in deeper guilt and misery than he could otherwise have incurred. But there is no undue severity in this. Let us suppose that God had acted towards the fallen angels as he has towards us. Let us suppose that he had sent his only dear Son to bear their punishment in his own person, and to work out a righteousness whereby they might be justified ; and that