CHAP.2.4. vd Comnaentarie upon the 624 twee which is in, orrather which is hisowne nature, who is 000dúeffe itfelfe; and ready tobe implied to the good of the creature. The latter a comnwunicated and participated goodneffeveto others , as a *came iffuing from the former fountains ; for it is laid to be luch a goodneffe as hark appeared. And whereas ¿he goodneffe of God lhineth out in and to all his creatures , not only in creating them all very good , but in the daily ordering and preferuing of them ; this is not filch a gene- rali goodnes,but more fpeciall and peculiar to mankind, which he lo- ueth better thenali the workcsofhishands befides, as creating him in his owne image, and giuing him Lordíhipover the reds ofthe creatures; Hecalled, him- and hence hedelighteth in the title, and ßileth himfelfe from his loue to fall oactrOfm w000l ,, vc>,cfrr man, and not from his loue to the Angels , or any other creature. And mc,otrA6a1Ssoc. ytt this loueofGodmuß be brought a little lower, ifwe would fettle it on his right obie l : for it is not generall nor abfolute, but refpe&iue andhaving reference vntoChriß, as the verfe implied): in whom it freeth from themiferymentioned in the former verfe, and ascepteth vnto that efpeciall mercy mentioned in the next. In a word, here is a greaterand more glorious loue then was feene in the creation and pre- feruation ofall things in the world : here is alone eleaing,redeemiog, regenerating,andglorifyingmiferable men ; a loue aduancing our hu- mane nature in his forme, who tooice not the feed of Angels but of A- braham; a loue whichhateth worldlyEfaus in comparifon of his Jacob, whom hecalleth outof the world ; not by the outward found of the Golpel only,but by the effe&call call of his fpiri t in their hearts; whom heloueth notas creatures but new creatures ,hkervntohimfelfethen all theother,by a reamed and renewed image : and for whom he bath re- ferued snore loue in heauen,when they (hall become yet liker vnto him in all bolines in the holy ofholyes. now cod cam weft. But how can fuch loue ofman be afcribed vnto God , feeing ba fo good co an,lcung fo that tomany velfels are prepared to deßrut Lion, and fo many millions many vctrclls are hated before they haue done good or evil:& fecondly ofchofe are prepared euer g y todefira:tíon. that are.deareft vittohim, many yea the moß are fo aflli&ed & diftreffed that they fcarce fee anygood day: can this (+and, with fuch a bountiful) loue ? Anfw. Firß, the goodnes of God muß timid with his wifedome; which affoardeth not the fame degree ofgoodnes toeuery one: it is not again(+ the goodnesofa potter to make ignobleveffels to di(honour as well as to honour , seeing the former haue all() their good vies. How could chegoodneffe ofa father appeare,ifhefhould let vp hogs, and dogs at his table as well as children? as the Lord is goed, fo hee is wife tobe fogood to each in their degree as may make for his own ho- nourand aduantage. a.This goodnes and loue ofGodmull (land with his
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