But if it may be permitted to dive into the Councels of the Almighty, and to speak our Thoughts upon the Motives, which might determine him to establish the Order now explain'd, and permit the Sin of Adam; I can't see how we can conceive a Notion more worthy the Greatness of God, and more consonant to Reason and Religion, than to believe his principal Design in his External Operations, was the Incarnation of his SON, That God establish'd the Order of Nature, and permitted the Disorder which befel it, to help forward his Great Work; that He permitted all Men to be subject to Sin, that none might glory in himself; and suffer'd Concupiscence in the Perfectest, and Holiest of Men, lest they should take a vain Complacency in their own Per∣sons. For upon considering the Perfection of one's Being, 'tis difficult to despise it, unless, at the same time, we contemplate, and love the Supreme Good; before whom all our Perfection and Greatness dissolves, and falls to nothing.
I own, That Concupiscence may be the occasion of our Merit, and that 'tis most just the Mind should for a Season follow Order with Pain and Difficulty, that it may merit to be eternally subject to it with Ease and Pleasure. I grant, That upon that Prospect God might have permitted Con∣cupiscence, when he foresaw the Sin. But Concupiscence not being absolutely necessary to our Merit∣ing, if God permitted it, it was, That Man might be able to do no good, without the Aids which JESUS CHRIST has merited for him: and that he might not glory in his own strength. For 'tis visible, That a Man cannot encounter and conquer himself, unless animated by the Spirit