244 An !Jumble Eizquiry into th_e !1~~nite Wifdom ofGo1 It w~s therefore left on the P;ovifion of Infinite Wifiom, - that th1s great effecr of recov~nng a Portion of fallen1v1an~ kind out of this miferable efiate, ·wherein there was a fuit~ .ablenefs, a condecency unto ~he Divine Excellencies, fl10uld be produced. Only it ·was to be done on and by a free Aa· of the Will of God; for otherwife there was no oblig>ttion on him from any of his Properties fo to do. ' . But it may be yet faid on the other fide, that the Nature ofMan was fo defiled, fo depraved,fo corrupted, fo alienated. ancl feparated from God, fo obnoxious unto the curfe by its · Sin' and Apofiafy, that it was not reparable to the Glory of God ; and therefore it would not argue any defecr in Divine Power, nor any unfuitablenefs unto Divine Wifdome and Goodnefs; if it were not aCtually repared and refiored. I an· iwer two things. . . . ' r I. The horrible nature of the firil: fin, and the I1einou[.. nefs of our Apoflafy from God therein, were fuch and fo great, as that God thereon might righteoufly an:l fuitably unto all the holy Properti~s of his Nature, leave.Mankind· to perifh etern~lly in that condition whereinto they had cafl: themfelves. And if he had utterly forfaken the whole Race of Mankind in that condition} and left them all as remedilefs as the fallen Angels, there could have been no reflecrion on his Goodnefs, and an evident fuitabienefs unto his Jufiice and Holinefs. Wherefore where-ever there is .any mention in the Scripture ofth.e Redemption or Rdl~1uration of Mankind, it is conil:andy propofed as an effecy of meer [overaig11 Grace and Mercy. See Ephef 1. h4' ), 6, 7, 8,. 9, ro, r r. And thofe who pretend a great di.fficul'ty ~t prefent in the reconciliation of the_eternal peril11ing ofthegreatefl part of Mankind, with thofe notions we have of the Divine Goodnifs, feem not to·· .have fufficien~ly confidered what was contained in our orii g,inal Apoil:afy from God; nor the Righteoufnefs of God. ia . - dealmg
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