A26796:396
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.
2. All Temptations in their degrees and continuance, are ordered by Gods Providence. He is the president of the combat: none enters into the lists but by his call: in all Ages the Promise shall be verified,1 God will not suffer his People to be tempted above what they are able. They shall come off more then Conquerors, through Christ that loves them. And ⟨p. 198⟩as St. Austin observes;2 more powerful Grace is necessary to fortify Christians, in the midst of all opposition, then Adam at first received. This is visible in the glorious issue of the Martyrs▪ Who loved not their Lives unto the Death: For Adam when no person threatened him, nay against the prohibition of God, abusing his Liberty, did not abide in his Happiness, when 'twas most easy to him to avoid Sin. But the Martyrs remained firm in the Faith, not only under Terrors, but Torments. And which is the more admirable, in that Adam saw the Happiness present, which he should forfeit by his Disobedience, and the Martyrs believed only the future Glory they were to receive. This proceeded only from God who was so merciful, as to make them faithful. Briefly, Unless there were a power above the Divine, the Elect are •ecured from final Apostasy. Our Saviour tells us that his Father is greater than all, and none is able to pluck them out of his hand. His Invariable Will and Almighty Power prevents their perishing. Indeed if it were only by the strength of Natural Reason, or Courage, that we are to overcome Temptations, some might be so violent as to make the strongest to faint and fall away: But if the Divine Power be the Principle that supports us, it will make the weakest victorious. For the Grace of God makes us strong, and is not made weak by us.
2. All Temptations in their degrees and continuance, are ordered by Gods Providence. He is the president of the combat: none enters into the lists but by his call: in all Ages the Promise shall be verified,1 God will not suffer his People to be tempted above what they are able. They shall come off more then Conquerours, through Christ that loves them. And