For the first, death is a deprivation of life as a punishment ordained of God, and imposed on man for his sin. First, I say, it is a deprivation of life, because the very nature of death, is the absence or defect of that life which God vouchsafed man by his creation. I add further, that death is a punishment, more especially to intimate the nature and quality of death; and to show that it was ordained, as a means of the execution of ⟨p. 4⟩Gods justice & judgment. And that death is a punishment, Paul plainly avoucheth, when he saith, that by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin. And again, that death is the stipend, wages, or allowance of sin. Furthermore, in every punishment there be three workers: the ordainer of it, the procurer, and the executioner. The ordainer of this punishment is God in the estate of mans innocency, by a solemn law then made in these very words. In the day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt die the death, Gen. 2.17. But it may be alleged to the contrary, that the Lord saith by the Prophet Ezekiel, that he will not the death of a sinner; & therefore that he is no ordainer of death.1 The answer may easily be made, & that sundry ways. ⟨p. 5⟩First, the Lord speaks not this to all men, or of all men, but to his own people, the Church of the Jews, as appears by the clause prefixed,2 Son of man say unto the house of Israel, &c. Again, the words are not spoken absolutely, but only in way of comparison, in that of the twain, he rather wills the conversion and repentance of a sinner, then his death and destruction. Thirdly, the very proper meaning of the words import thus much, that God doth take no delight or pleasure in the death of a sinner, as it is the ruin and destruction of the creature. And yet all this hinders not but that God in a new regard and consideration, may both will & ordain death, namely, as it is a due and deserved punishment, tending to the execution of justice; ⟨p. 6⟩in which justice God is as good as in his mercy. Again, it may be objected, that if death indeed had been ordained of God, then Adam should have bin destroyed, & that presently upon his fall. For the very words are thus, Whensoever thou shalt eat of the forbidden fruit, thou shalt certainly die. Ans. Sentences of scripture are either Legal or Evangelical:
For the first, death is a depriuation of life as a punishment ordained of God, and imposed on man for his sinne. First, I say, it is a depriuatiō of life, because the very nature of death, is the absence or defect of that life which God vouchsafed man by his creation. I adde further, that death is a punishment, more especially to intimate the nature and qualitie of death; and to shewe that it was ordained, as a meanes of the execution of ⟨p. 4⟩Gods iustice & iudgment. And that death is a punishment, Paul plainely auoucheth, when he saith, that by one man sinne entred into the world, and death by sinne. And againe, that death is the stipend, wages, or allowance of sinne. Furthermore, in euery punishment there bee three workers: the ordainer of it, the procurer, and the executioner. The ordainer of this punishment is God in the estate of mans innocency, by a solemne law then made in these very words. In the day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt die the death, Gen. 2.17. But it may be alleadged to the contrary, that the Lord saith by the Prophet Ezechiel, that hee will not the death of a sinner; & therefore that hee is no ordainer of death.1 The answer may easily be made, & that sundry waies. ⟨p. 5⟩First, the Lord speakes not this to all men, or of all men, but to his owne people, the Church of the Iewes, as appeares by the clause prefixed,2 Sonne of man say vnto the house of Israel, &c. Againe, the words are not spoken absolutelu, but onely in way of comparisoy, in that of the twaine, he rather wills the conuersion and repentance of a sinner, then his death and destruction. Thirdly, the very proper meaning of the words import thus much, that God doth take no delight or pleasure in the death of a sinner, as it is the ruine and destruction of the creature. And yet al this hinders not but that God in a newe regard and consideration, may both will & ordaine death, namely, as it is a due and deserued punishment, tending to the execution of iustice; ⟨p. 6⟩in which iustice God is as good as in his mercie. Againe, it may be obiected, that if death indeede had beene ordained of God, then Adam should haue bin destroied, & that presently vpō his fal. For the very words are thus, Whēsoeuer thou shalt eat of the forbidden fruite, thou shalt certenly die. Ans. Sentences of scripture are either Legall or Euangelical:
- 1Ezec. 33.11
- 2Vers. 10,
