A26796:150
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.
1. He uses many pleas and pretexts to justify, or extenuate the evil, and if possible to satisfy carnality, and Conscience too. Self-love, which is the eloquent advocate of Sense, puts a varnish upon Sin, to take off from its horrid appearance; and endeavours not only to colour the object, but to corrupt the Eye by a disguising tincture, that the sight of things may not be according to truth, but the desire. Thus the Heathens allowed Intemperance, Uncleanness, and other infamous Vices as innocent gratifications of Nature. Now if the Principles in Man are poisoned, so that evil is esteemed good, he then lives in the quiet practice of Sin without reflection or remorse. There is no sting remains to awaken him out of Security. But if he cannot so far bribe Conscience as to make it silent, or favourable to that which delights the Sense, if he cannot escape its internal condemnation, the next method is by a strong diversion to lessen the trouble.
1. He uses many pleas and pretexts to justifie, or extenuate the evil, and if possible to satisfie carnality, and Conscience too. Self-love, which is the eloquent advocate of Sence, puts a varnish upon Sin, to take off from its horrid appearance; and endeavors not only to colour the object, but to corrupt the Eye by a disguising tincture, that the sight of things may not be according to truth, but the desire. Thus the Heathens allowed Intemperance, Uncleanness, and other infamous Vices as innocent gratifications of Nature. Now if the Principles in Man are poisoned, so that evil is esteemed good, he then lives in the quiet practice of Sin without reflection or remorse. There is no sting remains to awaken him out of Security. But if he cannot so far bribe Conscience as to make it silent, or favourable to that which delights the Sence, if he cannot escape its internal condemnation, the next method is by a strong diversion to lessen the trouble.
2. When the carnal Mind sees nothing within but what torments, and finds an intolerable pain in conversing with it self, it runs abroad, and uses all the arts of oblivion to lose the remembrance of its true state. As Cain, to drown the voice of Conscience, fell a building Cities; and Saul, to dispel his Melancholy, called for Music: The business and pleasures of this life are dangerous amusements