Reynolds - Houston-Packer Collection BX5133.R485 T47 1642

248 ter. 17.16. z 8,6. lhe, fìnfulnelleof Sinne. laid eAfmen to the words of thofe falle Prophets, that preached :peace and rettitution againe. So then to con- clude this Cafe, when an e4Rion bath evil! in its owne fu6.ti` ance, it is omitted, but when the effElicn is of it felfe the smatter of a precept, and fo hath evil! only ex- ternally call upon it by the agent that Both it, here the e fction is not to bee omitted, but the cogent is to be re- formed.. But you will fay, if I may not doe evill that good may come of it, then I may not doe good when evill will come of it, upon the fame reafon, becaufe evill is al. together to be prevented and avoyded. To this I aniwer, that the Argument follower cleane contrary, I may net doe evill though good would come of it, I mutt doe good though evil! (hould come of it. For when a com- mand is abfolute and peremptory, wee mull not obferve it with refpea to confequences,nor foift in conditions relations of our ovine to over -rule the duely, leíl wee, make our (elves Lords of the Law. Now the Comman -, dement for doing good , notwithflanding any confe- quences which may attend it, is as abfolute and peremp- tory, as the command for not doing evil!, and there- fore we mutt not obferve or forbeare it with refpeel unto any confequences. For God will have us to meafure our duty by his command, which requires to abtiaine from evil), and to doe good, not by the Events that are inci- 1 dentali and external! to the duty done. So then that which is good materially of it felfe to bee done though ev ill follow, flit, becaufe G o n requires it, and his will mLf} (land againfl all confequences. Secondly,becaufe the evi II that comes along in the doing of it, is not any way belonging or naturally appendant upon the duty, but is foitted into it by our wicked nature, and the wickedneffe of man mull not either annihilate the commands of God, or void and evacuate his owne duty, or laftly, juflifieor priviledge his prefumptions. Thirdly, becaufe fo to doe is

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