S a c T. I'X. of Co ver ìas, ór Ttrnin3 'WO God. 405 fret us fee wherein it apjeareth, that this is not well pleating toGod ; and that therefore the whole fault and blame of a mans perdition is wholly on his own bead : Firft, Gods tinroillingnefr to damn, itteen in the original and primitive inflituti- s, on andcreationof man: He made him after his own Image ; indued him with Argnmentsca all fufficientpower and ability toperfevere : Therewasno !pot, orblemifh, or pr4ve the defefhinhim, only he was mutable, and might Apoftatize' from this haply P01IIt' eftate, if hewould : Seeing thenGod withheld nothing from him, thatmight make him happy ; and in him hecovenanted with all mankinde, intending the likegood to them ; hence it doth appear, howwell pleating it was unto God, that man fhould continue in a flareof holincfs before him : Sin then came into the World, and by it death through _4damr voluntary tranfgrefon: There was ib Ant&edaneoüs decree fromGod, neceffitating him to fin : It was his own Willfulchoice, and that when he knew the penalty to thecontrary ; but yet fo, that Gods permiflivedecreeof his fall, did precede, though notneceflitating: If therefore fin had been inbred inmansheart at firft, as it is now fince his fall, then the caufe would have been imputed to God; but then he had that priviledge of power to do that which is good , and to withftand what is evil. Secondly, Gods stnvvillingnefs o-s [ten, evenfince mans revolt ; For whereas he Rcafn a. might have dealt with us as the lapfed Angels, who are left without any re- medy, he bath appointedan Ark to fave tome Righteous perfons. There was never fuck offers and tenders to Angels, as here in the Test, Torny'e, turnye, why Willye be dammed ? Nowthemeans Godbath appointed for a mans recovery are divers: Firft, There are meansby Way of love andgoodnefs : There areage means by Way The.mean's of Choflifentents and affditlionr. ByWayof Love; How winningand overcoming God hath ap. fhould that be ? Lovedoth furround thee; its love that thou liven, that thou Pointed for breatheft ; its love, thou art preferved from hell and damnation; its love, mans recovery; that thou haft any fupport at all; therefore the goodnefs of God in all the Creatures thou enjoyeft, Ihould lead thee to repentance, Rom, a. The Sun that Mines to thee, the Earth that brings forth fruit for thee, the health andper- fedion of the(cafes, fhould melt thee always into good. Again, becaufena- turally' we are flavifh, and fo moved rather by judgements then mercies; ra- ther driven with whips, then drawn with{liken cords of love; therefore God leaveth not that way unattempcedalfo : Hence the Prophets are fodiligent in informing theIfraelites, what was the caufe of their plagues, famines, the fword and captivity,even their fins; and therefore theyfhould not be fo muchwearyof them, or cryout ofthem, as of their iniquities : God loth not punill Willingly, faith the Scripture,Pfal.r04. like the Bee that naturally gives honey; but flings not, unlefs provoked, As the Phyfitian doth not willingly put his Patient to torments, but for his good : Thus it is here, God feeth all his love upon thee will do thee no good, thou doeft abufe ir, and grow wanton under it, there- forehe will takeanother courfe, he will throw thee fometime into the water, to fee if thatwill get the filth out of thee ; fometime into the fire, to fee if thatwill fetch thedrofsout : If therefore God would leave thee incurable, hè would let thee alone, and punifh thee no more, as he threatens fome, Holm 4.14. 0 thenknow, there is never a mercy, oran affli/hon, never a fmile from God, or frown from him, but he will have an account of it: Howbath it made theeweary of thy fins, and willing to repent ? Secondly, The means God hath appointed, are either external or internal. Ex- ternal, are theScriptures, and the preaching of the word of God. As where IL, the Sun fhinetiy, that is to give light and life ; fo where the Gofpel arifeth, that is to begetfpiritual and fupernatural life: The word ofGod therefore, and the preaching thereof, is compared' to all effectual and energetical things, to lvluftard-feed:
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