Of Sufficient andEfedual Grace. 143 what do you.;by this, but Peek to render God as little comely tó his Creatures as you can. And if the love ofGod beHolinef'r and Happinefi5 If his Amiablenefs be his Goodnefs, even Himfelf5 If it be Chrift's great Work to reveal God inhisGoodnefs, and by Faith to kindle holy Love. And if it be the Devils malignity and work in the World to counterwork Chrift , and reprefent God as unlovely, judge whether you ferve Chritt or Satan, and whether it be not his chief workofen- mityagainft God that youcarry on ? But that you may have the true profpeet ofGodsgoodnefs in all this, you mutt remember that Gods Work as Creator goeth beforehis Workof Government, andhis Work of Government ingeneral before his Work of our Redemption 5 and his WorkofRedemptionand the Law of Grace before mens fin and Judgment. And t. If God that hath diverfified all lower Creatures as we fee, did pleafe in the Creation to make a rank of f ee-intelleEtial Creatures here on Earth,with power and help fuf$- cient toattain to an Angelical Glory, if they would not wilfully pre- fer the way of mifery, is there any want of goodnefs in making fuch a World ? Are they not noblerthan Bruits that have no fuch hope,though not than Angels that are confirmed. 2. And if he take pleafure having made fuch an Intelle&ual free Agent, to rule him morally by Laws, according tohis nature, and to take it forhis own great work tobe his King orRe&orin this fapiential way : That which much deludeth men in this, and wrongeth God, is that thefe foundations inNature are not well confidered. The iffue of all theAtheifts and difcontented Unbelievers ¿eccufations ofGod, is but this, That he made man but man, and nothing higher. A man is a mu- table Intelle&ual free Agent, whole duty and happinefs is left much to his own choofing or refuting. And being fo made he is accordingly tobegoverned 5 And as God (heweth his greatnefsof Power ás Creator andA&orof theuniverfal frameofNature, fo hehath chofeneminently to thew his Regent Wifdom, in his * moral Government ofMen and * cafp POseer ai(t. Car. Angels 5 And his wondrous Love, asthe fpecial Benefactor to the Vet; ;äñmPaga7 9 ñt felsof Mercy. Power, Wifdom and Love (orGoodnefs) are never fepa- mine ociojo, nihil agente, rated But each bath its eminent demonftration. And the Omnipotent babenteq; fepure papve; P am scut trnntar adce- Father is molt eminently glorified in his Power in the Creation, and actionem neceffieatir ftoi- fuftentation and motion of the Univerfe 5 fo the son who is the Wifdom cm,afflatnfveanabapù¡tici, frcatFlaciani fomntarnnt ç and Word of theFather ( and the Father in him) is eminently glorified ane veta: bentam matatio- inhis Wifdom in the Regency óf the Intellettual World, by a Japiential núphypconnthÿpne bona-, ,way of Government by Laws and judgment: And then Reps up the gnalem feeri fengitchimera phyfical Difputer, and prophanely blafphemeth this honourable Work ( that is, the Liber Con- ofGod,. and calleth it moral Operation in contempt, and thinks that un- ne moueaá%abt Iefs God move man to every Volition, as he doth the appetite of a /eanm paticnre'r tonner- Beaft if not as wemove a ftoue or(hoot an Arrow, he doth nothing, tebile, eotfq; donee camas ' > ' accepit fatnitatir da vir and it is his reproach. And to fay that he canor did make a Creature nmgnibrss agere popfit. that can freely will or not comparatively, even by the Power and general Concurfe ofGod, they fay is to feign him to make a God. And fo both theHonour of God as Creator is denied him, and his Honour of fe- piential Government is vilified. It is an excellent Workof the Creator to makeafieAgent in his own Image. And it is a fuitableand excellent Work ashis King, to appoint him his end, and means, and work, and rule him by perfe& Laws and judgments. In all which alto he að as a Benefactor, while he freely offereth him fo glorious a Reward, to which as Reítor he would lead him. And in that Relation will not be wanting unto him in any thing, which perfe&Regiment requireth. * 3. Con-
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