CHAP. V.-The Wisdom of God in Redemption.-Of the divine wisdom in the contrivance of man's
redemption. Understanding agents propound an end, and choose means for the obtaining of it.
1. The end of God is of the highest consequence, his own glory and man's recovery. The difficulty of
accomplishing it. II. The means are proportionable. The divine wisdom glorified in taking
occasion from the sin and fall of man to bring glory to God, and to raise man to a more excellent state.
It appears in ordaining such a Mediator, as was fit to reconcile God to man, and man to God.
discovered in the designation of the second person to be our Saviour; and making the remedy to have
a proportion to the cause of our ruin. It is visible in the manner whereby our redemption is accom-
plished; and in the ordaining of such contemptible means to produce such glorious effects; and laying
the design of the gospel, so as to provide for the comfort and promote the holiness of man.
CHAP. VI.— Practical Inferences.-I. A superlative degree of praise and thankfulness due to God for
the revelation of the gospel. It is not discovered by the creation; it is above the reach of natural
reason; the heathen world is entirely ignorant of it. It is pure grace that distinguishes one nation
from another, in sending the gospel. 11. Evangelical knowledge deserves our most serious study.
The gospel exceeds all contemplative and practical sciences; contemplative, in the greatness of its
object, and the certainty of its principle; practical, in the excellency of its end, and the efficacy of
the means.
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CHAP. VII.-The Causes and Unreasonableness of Unbelief.-The simple speculation of the gospel
not sufficient without a real belief, and cordial acceptance. I. The reasons why the Jews and
Gentiles conspired in the contempt of it. II. How just it is to resign up the understanding to revela-
tion. God knows his own nature and will, and cannot deceive us. We must believe the things that.
are clearly revealed, though we do not understand the manner of their existence; although they are
attended with seeming contradictions. No article of faith is really repugnant to reason. We must
distinguish between things incomprehensible and inconceivable, between corrupt and right reason.
How reason is subservient to faith. Humility and holiness qualify for the belief of the gospel-mysteries.
A naked belief of supernatutal truths is unprofitable for salvation. An effectual assent that prevails
upon the will and renders the whole man obsequious, is due to the quality of the gospel-revelation. 95
CHAP. VIII-The Freeness of the Divine Mercy in Redemption.-The mercy of God is represented
with peculiar advantages above the other attributes. It is eminently glorified in our redemption, in
respect of its freeness and greatness. The freeness of it amplified from the consideration, I. of the
original, and, II. of the object of it. God is perfectly happy in himself, and needs not the creature