erf. 35,36. the Epiffle to the Romans. poled to create, and how to governe the world : fo it bootes not for any man to look after thole counsels of his which he will have kept fècret ; there is no more dangerous madneffe then not regarding that which we ought, and may know, to moleft our (elves in hunting out what cannot be known. DIALOGUE XXXV. Vertes 3i, 36. Who hath given him firft,and it (ball be recoso- 1 pented to him again ? For of him, and through him, and for him are allbings : to 1 whom he glory for ever.Amen. T i M o r n E U s. HOw .doth this Text agree with the former? S r L. Having Paid we cannot pierce into Gods ferrets, he giveth a reafon, becaufe they depend not upon us , but we rather depend upon God as the first beginner of all things; he conferres all upon others, none conferres ought to him;withall he nowquitteth God from accufations of injuries to any creature, bya reafon taken from his Juftice, be- caufe he is a debter to none, but all are beholden to him for all that they be or have.Alfo he bath both made all at flrft, and fti11 governeth all things unto his own glory, therefore he cannot be un- jutt in his wayes. T i M. Doth,Pau1 allude to any place of Scripture in,ftying,[Wtobath given ?dr.c.] S r t.., Yea, toa place in Yob, Chap. t . verfe 2.. and fuck an interrogation, bath the force of a negation or deniall, as if it were Paid; None hath ought gi- ven untohim to bind him to make re- compence to them. T r What it frgnified by [Firft,] and by[ Recompencc ? ] S t t, Fiat, lignifies before : and re- compence,fìgnifies due reward by debt.' T t M. What is the dotirine from thefe words? S r L. That God bath abfolute right and power in, and over all men, fo as he oweth nothing to any, or takes ought 499 of any ; he may doe to them,or not do, what he will,give or not give,what,and to whom,and how much,as he pleafeth, being independent upon any creature, and free from all obligation which might oblige or tye him unto any of his creatures. No Potter over his clay, or Lord over his vaffals, can have more abfolute right and jurifdiltió,then God hath over all things created : eldam in Paradifè, or the good Angels which be in heaven, did not nor could demerit God, or make him in leafs degree bound to them, they giving or adding nothing unto him, but taking all their goodneffe, wifèdome, integrity, and whatfoever excellency from hin; ; and that freely out of his owne good will andpleafitre; as being himfelfofhin- fella molt full perfeltion, and an abfo- lute moil free Agent, himfclfbefort all things, cattle of all things,upholder and fuflainer of all things, end ofall things. As the Sea bath nothing from the.Ri. vers, but they from it; nor the Stïnne takes any light from the Moone; but it borrowed; all from the Swine; nor the foule borrowes any life front the body, but the bodies life is from the foule:fo is it between God and all his creatures. No Monarch in the world, Emperour or King, is or can be fo abfolute and in. depending, as the foveraigne King of the world is; for they cannot fubliift without their people,(as a King in roy- all authority) who by their multitude, strength and riches, do maintain the fafety of their Kings and Rulers,and by their fubmiffion do honour them : but God had no need of his creatures , he did and can for ever have fubfifted; and been perfea and all- fufficient to him- fell; and of hinfelf without them: and fo not they without him,of whom they have being,when they were not; and all things when they had nothing. ThiS made lob to fay,that as manswickednes hurt not God, fo his goodneffe did not profit him. And David, Pfal. r6. a. that his goodneffe or liberality did not ex- tend to God, but to the Saints, Which were of excellent vertue, it, might doe them fome.good, and none can give üu3 God
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