from the carnal and natural inclinations of the
heart; and of much opposition without, from Satan's ensnaring
suggestions and deceitful temptations: It must be a real, rational act
of the soul, upon solid and thorough conviction of their
unprofitableness, yea, of their dangerousness and destructiveness.

5. There must be some knowledge of the nature of the gospel covenant,
and of the way which now God hath chosen whereby to glorify his grace in
the salvation of poor sinners. That God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
thought good, for the glory of free grace and wisdom, in a way of
justice and mercy, to send Jesus Christ to assume man's nature, and so
become God and man in two distinct natures, and one person, for ever;
and to become under the law, to undergo the curse thereof, and to die
the cursed death of the cross, to satisfy justice, and pay the ransom
for the redemption of the elect. In which undertaking our Lord was a
servant, Isa. xlii. 1, and xlix. 6, and lii. 13, and liii. 11. Zech.
iii. 8. Matt. xii. 18; and had furniture from God for all his
undertaking, Isa. xlii. 1, and lxi. 1, 2. Matt. xii. 18; and had a
promise of seeing his seed, and of prolonging his days, &c. Isa. xliii.
10, 11. Thus there was a covenant of redemption betwixt God and the
Mediator; and the Mediator undertaking, was obliged to perform all that
he undertook, and accordingly did so. For, as the Lord laid on him, or
caused to meet together on him, "the iniquity of us all," Isa. liii. 6,
so in due time "he bare our griefs, and carried our sorrows. He was
wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities, the
chastisement of our peace was upon him. He was cut off out of the land
of the living, and stricken for the transgression of his people; he made
his soul an offering for sin, and bare the iniquities of his people.
Pouring out his soul unto death he bare the sin of many, and made
intercession for the transgressors," Isa. liii. 4, 5, 10, 11, 12. So
"that what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh,
God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, for sin (or by
a sacrifice for sin) condemned sin in the flesh," Rom. viii. 3, "that
the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us," verse 4. Thus
"he made him sin (or a sacrifice for sin) that we might become
righteous," 2 Cor. v. 20; and "he was once offered to bear the sins of
many," Heb. ix. 28; and "he, through the eternal Spirit, offered himself
w