Verf. 8. the Epifile to the Romans. 445 teach God to be the chiete authour and proper caufe of hardneffe, even as it is a fin; whereas with one content, we all do teach the proper caute of unbeleef and fin (as is is a fin) to lurke in our own nature, and do wholly difcharge God of this God neither willeth, approved), nor worketh fin, faith Philip Mebane-ion, upon the firft Chapter to the Romans. Every one finneth willingly (faith Peter Martyr,) and no man is compelled of God to tin ; upon the 9. Chapter of jud- ge s.The originali of fin is not in God, taith Calvin upon yames r. 13. We hold hint for impious and blafphemous(faith Beza contra COL) which faith there is iniquity with God; yet both Duren; the Jefuite, and the Rhemifh Priefts, doe charge us that we do make God the pro- per author and worker ofhardneffe of heart, and the a hive cattle of fin. Yea, hereupon Stapleton the Divinity reader at noway, inferrcth that the God of the Catholickes, and the God of the Pro- tefiants is not one. For ( faith he ) the Catholickes God is not the caufe of fin, but the God of the Proteflants is to ; which is a wicked calumniation, and may he jufily retorted, thus; The true God allowes no Matte, Tranlub- flantiation, Purgatory, Prayer for the dead, merits, &c. T t M. But you laid that fpirituall blind - ne(fe and hardnef proceedeth from Satan, how prove you that ? S t L. Fii if, from thé text which ma- keth the (lumber or fenfelefheffe of the and dropped into a veffell. Hence he is Paid coworkein the children of difobe- dience, Ephef. 2.2. and to be effe&tuall in the wicked, ftrongly to delude them, 2 2 bef.2.9.and to have entred into Judas, by his fuggeftion to encreafe his malice anainli Chrift. T t ns. ,Is this power given to Satan over rany which are borne if God ? S r L. No, over none of them, but over the reprobate only;for it is written that that wicked one toucheth them not, t Iohn 5.18. allo by watchfulneffe and prayer they are kept from falling into nis shares, though they be fore and of- ten tempted, Math. 6. 13. and 26. 4 r. His tyranny is exercifed only upon and over them,which are addiEted and whol- ly given to difobedience, over the repro- bate in whom he raigneth and worketh even at his pleafure, 2 7hef. 2. to. The reafon hereof is, becaufe wicked men are worthily committed to Satan to be governed by him, becaufe they wanton- ly and wilfully fluke offehe regiment of God, and will not be led by his word and Spirit, Pfal. 2.3. That which Pha- raoh fpake with his mouth, the fame all wicked men thinke in their hearts, and fay in their foules, Who is the Lord that we fhould obey him? And therefore they have an evill fpirit let over them, as it did haepen unto Saul, who refitted the good Spirit of God, and had there- fore an evil] fpirit Pent to rule and vexe him. T t M. IPhat prop is to be made hereof ? foul in heavenly matters, to be an effect S I L. It fhould teach all Chriffi- of the evil] fpirit lent by God into the ans willingly to obey God, labour - wicked, to make them more blind and ing to keep his word, and fuffering it obflinate then they were afore. Alto it is written, e Gr. 4. 4. that Satan doth blinde the mindes of the wicked; and t Kings 22. 22. Satan is Pent of God with authority, to leade into errour and bliadnefle that wicked King Ahab. T s M.But how is Satan the caul of hard- neffe of heart ? S I L. As a tempter, and instigator, and infpirer ,to breath and drop in un- godly and unrighteous cogitations into to governe their wayes, left after their defervings, he doe put them into the hands and power of Satan, to be by him carried along unto deftru &ion; for there is no remedy, fuch as caft off the yoake and government of Chriff, muff be put under Satans rule and domi- nion. T t M.TYhy didyou affirme that God was the eau(eof a blinde and hardned heart? S t L. $ecaufe the Scriptures both in thisTexr,and innumerable other places, wicked mens hearts,as liquor is diftilled do attribute it to God, in EJay 6.9 I Godt
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