VER.II. Epherians,Chap.t, finners; for if finne in one, now a wilful] finner, Bothby refpeds it hach and ufes , become a fit object for Gods will to will and ordaine ; then the finne of a creature defeCtible may be ordained alto. rz. That in wich is Gods counfell, in that is his will and worke ; But Gods counfell reacheth to the beingoffin, otherwife fin fhould fall out God unadvifed.Thepropofitionis in the Text; His counfell is ac- ceptedby his will, and he doth worke effectually after fome manner, that which his will alloweth,and counfell advifeth. 13. That which is a truth,muftneedes have fome former truth, acaufe why it is true;& fo there is no flay till wecome to the firfi truth,caufe of all truth : But that finne is a truth, Ergo. 14. Ifthere were but one fountainofwater,there couldnot be any water which were not thence derived:So there whereis but one fountainof b Bing, what ever is found to be,muft needs thence takethe original], fo far forth as it is exiftent. Having heard what chiefly is brought in one judgement and other, wewill lay downe thefe conclufions for way ofanfwer,to thole Arguments which werefirft laid down, oppofingthe truth in this Queftion,as I take it. Canclufion r. God cannot poffibly finne : He may worke betide his rule who may finne,Godsrule is hismoll juft and wife will, which he cannot but worke after,no more thenhe candeny his owne nature; Erre,he cannot finne. z. God cannotbe authorof finne,in and with his creature, ashe is of every good wordand work ; for that which the creature doth, God be- ing the author and principal] worker ofit, God muff informe theman- ner ofit byhis commandment,andworke it in him by his fpirit: But it is impolible for the creature to finne inworking after that whichis com- mandedhimofGod;Ergo. 3. God cannot fo far wil Gn,as toapprove it for good in it felf;it hath no proportion to his nature, fuch as he cannot be author of in the crea- ture, nor yet the creature worke while it keep:thcommunion with him. Wherefore Godcannot allow it as good in it felf,thoughhe bath liberty whether he will punifh it thus or thus ; according as he doth with free- dome toward fuch things which he cannot but approve asgood,fuch o. bedience tohis Law had his creature obeyed. ç. Though God cannot will it as good in it felfe, nor approve it as good, yet he may will itfo farreforth that it fhall be, as being able to worke good out ofit ; God might have willed that noneof thefe things íhould havebeone, which had agreement withhis nature, and Ergo, by proportion may will that loch things fhall be, which difagree in fome fort from his nature : For though thefethings are not good, the being ofthem is good to him who can ufeit to his glory. Godsefficacy, Ergo, reacheth not to the Effence, but to the being and beginning of fin : For though thewill ofman dothmake finne exifl immediately, yet the will ofi J
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=