278 The Sublipprians dotrine when I have fiat fet down fome genetrall confiderations concerning the Mercie or Ju- face or other virtues, in Scripture afcribed unto God. vide Pok And firíl we muff know , That though e voi difp. thenames ofhabitual! virtues be attributed rfp3; s. , unto God, yet it is impofible that any fuch habits fhouid truly and really belong unto the Divine will ; Q oniamhabitus non dan- tur, nifi tanquam fupplementapotentiarumea- rum qu6e intra ordinem potentite non flint per- fe he. Unleffe therefore we hold Gods power of willing in it feltto be imperfea and to want fupervenient reifying habits, we mull; not avouch with this Authour that Juflice, Mercie, Holineffe, &c. are in Gods will the fame in nature which thefe virtues are inmen, and onely differing in degree. Secondly, though in God there be a per- manent inclination or naturali difpofition to produce thofe outward effeets which in us proceed from habituall virtues , as To endow his creatures with many good things, which we termBountie or Liberali- tie ; To help them out of their miferies which we term Mercie; To punifh them according to their mifdeferts, which we call Juflice, and the like : yet God fhould not have been covetous or niggardly , had he never diffufed drop ofhis bountie to any creature, but kept and enjoyed his good- nefïe
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