“In God’s giving Christ to be our Redeemer, He gave the highest gift that it was possible for divine goodness to bestow. As there is not a greater God than Himself to be conceived, so there is not a greater gift for this great God to present to His creatures.
And though He could create millions of worlds for us, He cannot give a greater Son to us.
When God intended in redemption the manifestation of his highest goodness, it could not be without the donation of the choicest gift.
As when He would ensure our comfort He swears ‘by Himself,’ because He cannot ‘swear by a greater,’ (Heb. 6:13), so when He would ensure our happiness He gives as His Son, because He cannot give a greater, being equal with Himself.
Had the Father given Himself in person, He had given one first in order, but not greater in essence and glorious perfections.
The wounds of an Almighty God for us are a greater testimony of goodness than if we had all the other riches of heaven and earth.”
–Stephen Charnock, “A Discourse on the Goodness of God,” The Existence and Attributes of God, The Works of Stephen Charnock, Vol. 2 (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1681/2010), 2: 324-325.
