A26796:130
The harmony of the divine attributes in the contrivance and accomplishment of man's redemption…
The harmony of the divine attributes in the contrivance and accomplishment of man's redemption by the Lord Jesus Christ, or, Discourses wherein is showed how the wisdom, mercy, justice, holiness, power, and truth of God are glorified in that great and blessed work / by William Bates.The harmony of the divine attributes in the contrivance and accomplishment of man's redemption by the Lord Jesus Christ, or, Discourses wherein is shewed how the wisdom, mercy, justice, holiness, power, and truth of God are glorified in that great and blessed work / by William Bates.
London: printed by J. Darby for Nathaniel Ranew and Jonathan Robinson and Brabazon Aylmer, 1674
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
CHAP. IV.
The impossibility of Mans Recovery, by his Natural Power. He cannot regain his Primitive Holiness. The Understanding and Will, the superior Faculties are depraved. The Mind is ignorant and insensible of our Corruption. The Will is more depraved than the Mind. It embraces only Sensual Good. Carnal Objects are wounding to the Conscience, and unsatisfying to the Affections, yet the Will eagerly pursues them. The moral Impotence, that ariseth from a perverse Disposition of the Will, is culpable. Neither the Beauty, nor the Reward of Holiness can prevail upon the unrenewed Will. Guilty Man cannot recover the Favour of God. He is unable to make Satisfaction to Justice. He is incapable of real Repentance, which might qualify him for Pardon.
The impossibility of Mans Recovery, by his Natural Power. He cannot regain his Primitive Holiness. The Understanding and Will, the superiour Faculties are deprav'd. The Mind is ignorant and insensible of our Corruption. The Will is more deprav'd than the Mind. It embraces only Sensual Good. Carnal Objects are wounding to the Conscience, and unsatisfying to the Affections, yet the Will eagerly pursues them. The moral Impotence, that ariseth from a perverse Disposition of the Will, is culpable. Neither the Beauty, nor the Reward of Holiness can prevail upon the unrenewed Will. Guilty Man cannot recover the Favour of God. He is unable to make Satisfaction to Justice. He is incapable of real Repentance, which might qualifie him for Pardon.
When Adam was expelled from Paradise, the entrance was guarded by a flaming Sword, to signify, That all hopes of Return by the way of Nature are cut off for ever. He lost his Right, and could not recover it by Power. The chiefest ornaments of Paradise are the Image and Favour of God, of which he is justly deprived: and there is no possibility for him to regain them. What can he expect from his own Reason that betrayed him to ruin? If it did not support him when he stood, how can it raise him when he is fallen? If there were a power in lapsed Man to restore himself,