Hufsey:
If it is demanded, to what end God sent his Son, the Apostle resolves it; “and sent his Son to be a propitiation for our sins,” 1 Joh. 4:10.
“God gave his Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish,” Joh. 3:16-17. In a word, to save the world.
It is a little to curious to inquire further, whether God might not have saved lost man without the Mediation of Jesus Christ, which Aquinas determines to have been possible to him, to whom nothing is impossible; but God’s infinite wisdom this seemed the most convenient, nay, for us incomparably better way, as whereby
1. God commends his infinite love, and philanthropia to us: Herein is love, not that we loved God, “but that he loved us, and sent his Son,” &c. 1 Joh. 4:10.
This may serve to keep sinners from despair.
2. This shows God inconceivable hatred of sin, to keep sinners from presuming, when God spared not his own Son, appearing in the room and place of sinners.
3. It affords us strong motive to obedience: when we are bought with such a price, we have all reason in the world to glorify God, “with our souls and bodies, which are God’s,” 1 Cor. 6:8.
4. No small honor redounds to human nature, by the word becoming flesh, the Son of God assuming our nature, Nolite nos ipsus comtemnere viri, &c. Undervalue not yourselves O men, seeing Christ was made Men; debase not yourselves O Women, because Christ was born of woman, says one.
5. Christ not only suffered for us our sins, but set us an example of humility, obedience, and all Christian graces, “which may be of great advantage to us, to walk in his steps,” 1 Pet. 2:21.
Reason. There can be no other cause in the world assigned, either internal or external, moving God to give his Son, but his mere love, his innate pity, bowels of mercy and compassion, yearning over his poor creature fallen into misery, plunged into the horrible put of destruction through his own wretched carelessness, and Satan’s implacable malice.
In the giving of his Son, God has made known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, according to his name, so is his nature: “The Lord God merciful and gracious, long-suffering and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, and transgression,” Exod. 34:6-7. This is his name forever, and his memorial to all generations. This is celebrated in Scripture frequently; as if the Lord were delighted in glorifying his mercy above all the rest of his name and glorious attributes: “he is said to be plenteous in mercy,” Psal. 86:5. “He is pitiful and of tender mercy,” Jam. 5:11. And upon no occasion is the glory of his mercy so much spoken of, as in the work of redemption, and the sending of his Son: But God who is rich in mercy, for the great love wherewith he loved us, &c. “That he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness towards us through Jesus Christ,” Eph. 2:4,7. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy,” &c., 1 Pet. 1:3.
“Where sin abounded, there grace did much more abound,” Rom. 5:20.
To the praise of his glorious grace, wherein he has made us accepted in the beloved,” Eph. 1:6.
“But after the kindness and love of God our Savior, towards man appeared,” &c. “Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,” Tit. 3:4-6.
By all which it is manifest that God gave his Son freely, most freely, out of no necessity, for no profit to himself accruing by man’s salvation, for no works of righteousness, service or obedience foreseen, but moved thereto by his own goodness, grace, mercy, not delighting in the death of sinners, nor willing that poor man should perish by the Devil’s fraud and envy. Grace laid the foundation of redemption, in the sending of Jesus Christ, and grace alone is that which must lay the top-stone with shoutings, crying, “Grace, Grace unto it.”
J. Hufsey, The Way to Salvation: Or, The Doctrine of Life Eternal Laid down in several Texts of Scripture Opened and Applied (London: Printed for Nathaniel Ranew, and Jonathan Robinson, at the Angel in Jewen Street, 1668), 102-104. [Some spelling modernized; some reformatting; and italics original.]