CHAP. III.
Of the Agent or chiefe Author of the worke of our Redemption, and of the first thing distinctly ascribed to the person of the Father.
THe a 1.1 Agent in, and chiefe Author of this great work of our Re∣demption, [§ I] is the whole blessed Trinity, b 1.2 for all the workes which outwardly are of the Deitie are undevided, & belong equally to each person; their distinct manner of subsistance and order be∣ing observed, it is true, there were other sundry instrumentall cau∣ses in the oblation, or rather passion of Christ; but the worke can∣not in any sence be ascribed unto them: for in respect of God the Father, the issue of their indeavor was exceeding contrary to their own intentions; and in the close they did nothing, but what the hand and counsell of God had before determined should bee done, Acts 4. 28. and in respect of Christ, they were no way able to accom∣plish what they aymed at, for he himselfe laid down his life, and none was able to take it from him, Joh 10. 17, 18. so that they are to be ex∣cluded from this consideration. In c 1.3 severall persons of the holy Trinity, the joynt Author of the whole worke, the Scripture pro∣poseth [§ II] distinct and sundry acts or operations peculiarly assigned * 1.4 unto them, which, according to our weake manner of apprehensi∣on, we are to consider severally and apart: which also wee shall doe, beginning with them that are ascribed to the Father.
Two peculiar acts there are in this work of our Redemption by the blood of Jesus, which may be and are properly assigned to the