will proceed to suppose Adam, after he had fallen, standing in the presence of his Maker, and addressed by his Maker to the following effect : ' Thou hast fallen ; and all thy descendants, whose head and representative thou hast been, are fallen in thee. But I have designs of love and mercy towards both thee and them. I have already declared to thine adversary the devil, that one shall spring from thee to bruise his headb: and now I say to thee, that I will not only send thee a Saviour, but I will give thee salvation in any way that thou thyself shalt desire, provided only it be not derogatory to my honour, or inconsistent with my perfections. Now, there- fore consider thy necessities, and I will supply them all ; so that nothing shall be wanting, either to thy- self or thy posterity, that can conduce to their happi- ness in time or in eternity. I tell thee again, that I will grant thee a Saviour ; and in him shall be com- bined every thing that thou thyself shalt desire.'
To this we may suppose Adam to reply : ' O my God, I am filled with wonder at thy condescension and grace, to one who deserves nothing at thy hands but wrath and indignation : and I would rather refer it back again to thee, to give me such a Saviour as thou shalt see fit : for, indeed, " I know neither what to ask, nor how to ask itc." I feel that I am so deeply fallen, that not the highest archangel about thy throne could save me.'
' True,' we may suppose Jehovah to say; ' no crea- ture could be sufficient for that end. But " the person whom I will appoint to that office shall be my only-begotten Sond;" "my Fellow6," who is altogether One with mef; in glory equal, in majesty co-eternal.'
' But, O my God, how shall I dare to approach him, or to spread my wants before him ? I should fear, he would spurn me from his footstool, and never condescend to look on so vile and worthless a being as I am.' v
b Gen. iii. 15. c Rom. viii. 2(5. d John in. 16.
e Zech. xiii. 7. f John x. 30.