in such a manner as being from the grace and love of God to men,
gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great lovingkindness." Ps. 103:8, "The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy." Ps. 145:8, "The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and of great mercy." We have again almost the same words, Jonah 4:2; Mic. 7:18, "Who is a God like thee, that pardoneth iniquity, etc …? He retaineth not his anger forever, because he delighteth in mercy." Ezek. 18:32, "I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God; wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye." Lam. 3:33, "He doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men." Ezek. 33:11, "As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?" 2 Pet. 3:9, "Not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."
2. The work of redemption wrought out by Jesus Christ, is spoken of in such a manner as being from the grace and love of God to men, that does not well consist with his seeking a communication of good to them only subordinately, i.e. not at all from any inclination to their good directly, or delight in giving happiness to them, simply and ultimately considered; but only indirectly, and wholly from a regard to something entirely diverse, which it is a means of. Such expressions as that in John 3:16 carry another idea. "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." And 1 John 4:9–10, "In this was manifested the love of God towards us, because that God sent his only begotten son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love; not that we loved God but that he loved us, and sent his son to be a propitiation for our sins." So Eph. 2:4, "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us," etc. But if indeed this was only from love to
something else, and a regard to a further end, entirely diverse from our good; then all the love is truly terminated in that, its ultimate object! And God's love consists in regard towards that: and therein is God's love, and therein is his love manifested, strictly and properly speaking, and not in that he loved us, or exercised such high regard towards us. For if our good be not at all regarded ultimately, but only subordinately, then our good or interest is, in itself considered, nothing in God's regard or love: God's respect is all terminated upon, and swallowed up in something diverse, which is the end, and not in the means.
So the Scripture everywhere represents concerning Christ, as though the great things that he did and suffered, were in the most direct and proper sense, from exceeding love to us; and not as one may show kindness to a person to whose interest, simply and in itself considered, he is entirely indifferent, only as it may be a means of promoting the interest of another (that is indeed directly regarded) which is connected with it. Thus the apostle Paul represents the matter, Gal. 2:20, "Who loved me, and gave himself for me." Eph. 5:25, "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church, and gave himself for it." And Christ himself, John 17:19, "For their sakes I sanctify myself." And the Scripture represents Christ as resting in the salvation and glory of his people, when obtained, as in what he ultimately sought, as having therein reached the goal at the end of his race; obtained the prize he aimed at; enjoying the travail of his soul, in which he is satisfied, as the recompense of his labors and extreme agonies. Is. 53:10–11, "When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many, for he shall bear their iniquities." He sees the travail of his soul in seeing his seed, the children, brought