A26796:338
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. If we reflect upon the horror of our natural state, it will exceedingly heighten the mercy that delivered us. This I have in part opened before, therefore I will be the shorter in describing it. Man by his rebellion had forfeited Gods favour, and the honour and happiness he enjoyed in Paradise. And as there is no middle state between Sovereignty and misery, he that falls from the Throne stops not till he comes to the bottom; so when Man fell from God and the dignity of his innocent state, he became extremely miserable. He is under the servitude of sin, the tyranny ⟨p. 162⟩of Satan, the bondage of the Law, and the empire of Death.
1. If we reflect upon the horrour of our natural state, it will exceedingly heighten the mercy that delivered us. This I have in part opened before, therefore I will be the shorter in describing it. Man by his rebellion had forfeited Gods favour, and the honour and happiness he injoyed in Paradise. And as there is no middle state between Sovereignty and misery, he that falls from the Throne stops not till he comes to the bottom; so when Man fell from God and the dignity of his innocent state, he became extreamly miserable. He is under the servitude of sin, the tyranny ⟨p. 162⟩of Satan, the bondage of the Law, and the empire of Death.
1. Man is a captive to sin. He is fallen from the hand of his counsel, under the power of his passions, Love, Hatred, Ambition, Envy, Fear, Sorrow, and all the other stinging Affections, (of which is true what the Historian speaks of the several kinds of Serpents in Africa, Quantus nomivum tantus mortium numerus) exercise a tyranny over him. And if no man can serve two Masters, 1as the Oracle of Truth tells us, how wretched is the slavery of Man, whose passions are so opposite, that in obeying one, he cannot escape the lash of many imperious Masters. He is possest with a Legion of impure lusts. And as the Demoniac in the Gospel was sometimes cast into the fire, and sometimes into the water; so is he hurried by the fury of contrary passions. This servitude to sin is in all respects complete. For those who serve are either born servants, or bought with a price, or made captives by force: and sin hath all these kinds of title to man.