The sum of sacred divinity briefly & methodically propoundedThe summe of sacred diuinitie briefly & methodically propounded

Again, if you look to the end of Gods counsels, in the damnation of the wicked, the Apostle saith, it is not absolutely and simply their destruction; as if God were like an unmerciful and a cruel hard-hearted Tyrant, that taketh pleasure in other mens ruins: but it is (as he setteth out in the example of PHARAOH) to show forth his power, and to have his Name published in all the Earth, making his Glory to shine in their deserved punishment, whilst thereby he doth declare himself an Enemy, and Revenger of sin, Mighty in the execution of his Judgements, Wonderful in the riches of his Mercy towards the Elect; as one contrary doth set forth another.

Againe, if you looke to the end of Gods counsels, in the damnation of the wicked, the Apostle saith, it is not absolutely and simply their destruction; as if God were like an vnmercifull and a cruell hard-hearted Tyrant, that taketh pleasure in other mens ruines: but it is (as he setteth out in the example of PHARAOH) to shew forth his power, and to haue his Name published in all the Earth, making his Glorie to shine in their deserued punishment, whilest thereby hee doth declare himselfe an Enemie, and Reuenger of sinne, Mightie in the execution of his Iudgements, Wonderfull in the riches of his Mercie towards the Elect; as one contrarie doth set forth another.

Lastly, for the thorough justifying of Gods most righteous Decree, especially of Reprobation, which profane Dogs do most of all bark against, he both allegeth the Will of God, as the rule of all Righteousness, and his Sovereignty as the Lord and Creator of all things; in whose hands we be, as Clay in the hands of the Potter, to deal with us as seemeth good in his own eyes, and to conclude his wonderful lenity and mildness, not only in so long suffering and forbearing of the wicked, but besides, in the abundance of blessings, wherewith he loadeth them, which bring upon them a more just Damnation. Wherefore that which some object out of the Prophet, that God will not, that¹ is, delighteth not, nor taketh pleasure in the death of a Sinner, hath a ready answer: for God, so far forth as it is the overthrow and destruction of his Creature, hath no pleasure in it, but as it is a punishment of sin, and a means to declare his Justice: Neither can God therefore be said first, and of himself to hate his Creature; for he hateth none which have not in themselves the cause of hatred, even their own sin being that, for which alone he actually hateth any thing: & his Decree to destroy them, was not because he hated them: for the cause of this Decree is his own most holy pleasure, that so he might manifest in them the glory of his Justice.