A26796:285
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.
3. The prejudices which arose from Sensual Lusts hindered the Belief of the Gospel. As the carnal Understanding rebels against the sublimity of its Doctrine, so the carnal Appetite against the purity of its Precepts. And according to the Dispositions of Men from whence they act, such light they desire to direct them in acting. The Gospel is a Mystery of Godliness, and those who are under the love of Sin, cherish an affected Ignorance, lest the Light should inflame Conscience, by representing to them the deadly guilt that cleaves to Sin, and thereby make it uneasy. This account our Saviour gives of the Infidelity of the world,1 That men love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil. And ⟨p. 132⟩that this was the real cause, what ever was pretended, is clear, in that the Gentiles who opposed Christ, adored those impure Deities, whose infamous Lusts were acknowledged by them. And with what colour then could they reject our Redeemer because crucified? As if Vice were not more incompatible with the Deity, than Sufferings.
3. The prejudices which arose from Sensual Lusts hindered the Belief of the Gospel. As the carnal Understanding rebels against the sublimity of its Doctrine, so the carnal Appetite against the purity of its Precepts. And according to the Dispositions of Men from whence they act, such light they desire to direct them in acting. The Gospel is a Mystery of Godliness, and those who are under the love of Sin, cherish an affected Ignorance, lest the Light should enflame Conscience, by representing to them the deadly guilt that cleaves to Sin, and thereby make it uneasie. This account our Saviour gives of the Infidelity of the world,1 That men love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil. And ⟨p. 132⟩that this was the real cause, what ever was pretended, is clear, in that the Gentiles who opposed Christ, adored those impure Deities, whose infamous Lusts were acknowledged by them. And with what colour then could they reject our Redeemer because crucified? As if Vice were not more incompatible with the Deity, than Sufferings.