Baxter - Houston-Packer Collection BT70 .B397 1675

And the Sub-operations of Alan's Will. 63 7. All this being iv-itaral, let us now confider what fin doth to the firmer here, and you aiii find that almofl all his calamity confmlfeth in his very fin itfelf, and the natural cffcttsof it: But yet it is fn as mans, and it is punfbment asfrom God, when yet God is no Calife of thefn. . 8. This is plain if youconfider that Gods ,411 by which hemaketh fin a Ì'unifbment, was Before the fin, though the Relation of a Punifbment corne after the relation of fin: Here are two Agents, r. God making Natureand it Law therein; 2. Man di fordrringhisaftions by tranfgreffing: 3." Hence Immediately followeth Guilt or theformoffin: . 4. And with ir, even in the change, or after it, the naturalpain, of lofor hurt ; 5. And this is Related to man as a punifhmentfor the fn, in the lift place. For inftance,God made man, and God made meat, wine, and poyfon God relleth. Man in Nature, [ I have made thee fuch a Creature, or that excefl ofMeat will make thee Fick, exceffofwine will make thee mad, and Poyfón will torment and kill thee : I have given thee fèlf-love, and com- mand thee that thou avoid all theft' ; and I will not deny thee necef ark help ; But if thou wilt not, it will be thy pain, which ï willthat thou fief fer for and by thy fin.] I need not further apply it here ; theapplica- tion is obvious. Allthis I fpeak onlyof natural punifhmenrs which by the Lawof nature follow fin : what is fupernatural is after to be confidered. . so. And z. It is evident that theReatiia culpa is eitherthe fin itfelf or its infeparable effect. He that lath once finned is Related to God as a (inner. And an infamous Relation, fuch asof a Rebel, a Rogue, a Murderer, &ç. is no fmall evil, in all foundmens efteem. ??. t r, ì. Sin is the Deformity, diforder, and difeafe of the foul ; and its Habits are akind of Vicious Nature: It is the Nature of Devilsto be exceeding malignant, rebellious and at enmity with God and fpiritual Goodnefs: To -have a. Nature or Difpoftion, which is. averfe to that which Mould be its own end, delight and happinefs. And a wife man would rather beannihilated, than turned into a Toad, a Snake or Adder; though their nature be not offenfive to themfelves. How much more would he rather be annihilated than become a Devil? Wicked men are liker to Devils than they areawareof : TheyLovenot Godand Holinefs i. nay theyhave a malignant enmity to him : which maketh them foaverfe to all that is Holy in their lives, and to be fuch perfecutors and haters of good men. So that the Scripture calleth their wifdom Devilifh, yea and themfelves flat Devils in plain words, and theChildrenof the Devil , Jam. 3. 15. Job. 8.44.; Job. B. 70. OneofyouisaDevil. And 13.2. Abt.13. to. Thou childof t eDevilandenemy of all righteoufnefl z Job. 3. 8, io. Ire that commits finis of theDevil Therefore they are ad- judged to fuller with the Devilandhis Angels, as the Saints (hall. be equal with the Angels of God. For the truth is, aSaint and an Angel, and a wicked man and a Devil, do differ lefs than is commonly thought on. Now what faber man wouldnot rather be Nothing, thanbe a Devil? To .lave, a venemous, malignant, malicious, reftlefs, rebellious nature, at en- mity to Good and in love with evilc And who is it that maketh men to be fucht Not Godbutthemfelves. z. Is it not a, goeat calamity to be mad: Wickedmen are far wotfe : and they made themfelves fuch. 2. Were it not a great mifery to have a nature that had no Love tó, or delight in, health, cleanlinefs, dwelling, food, friends, 6-c. but hated all of them; and let again(t them t Howmuch more to have fuch an enmity to Godandholinefs andour own falvation 3. Were`

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