in«oUt u1 ífg_ . ,an'il 3teberptíon. 43 3. The permiffion oftheFall dothnot reflect on the Chap. HIl. Divine Purity; For I. Man was madeUpright; He had no inward Cor- ruption tobetrayhim ; There was Antidote enough in hisNature to expel the ftrongeft Temptation. 2. God was not bound to hinder the cotnmiffion of Sin: 'Tis a true Maxime, that indebitis caufa defrcienr efficit moraliter : But God is not only free from fub je&ion to a Law, as having no Superiour, but was under no voluntary obligation by Promife to prevent the Fall. 3. Neither doth thatfrifl Mt of Sin reflect onGod's unfpotted Providence which fuffer'd it, as if Sin were in any degree allowedby Him. The Holy Lawwhich God gave to direct Man, the terrible Threatning an next to warn him, declare his irreconcileable Hatred againft Sin. He permits innumerable Sins every day, yet He is as jealous of the Honour of his Holinefs now, as in the beginning. 'Tis the worft impiety for the Sinner to think God like himfeelf, as if he took Pr I; 5o, 21: complacency inSin, becaufe he is filent for a time and fullers the commiffion of it. In the next Rate he will fully vindicate his Glory , and convince the whole Worldof his eternal averfation from Sin, by inflicting on (inners the molt dreadful and durable torments. 4. Thegoodnefs of God isnot difparag'd bypermit- ting the fall : This appears by confidering, I. That God bellowed on Man an excellent being, and a happinefs that might fatisfie his Nature, confi- der'd as humane, or holy. But he perverted the favours ofGod to his difhonour, and this loth not leflén the goodnefs that gave-them. 'Tis unreafonable to judge of the value of a Benefit by the ingrateful abuCe of the receiver, and not from its own Nature. 'Tis a chofen Mifery that is come uponMan; and not to be G 2 imputed
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