A26796:656
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.
First,1 To use Virtue as the means to obtain Reputation and Honour in the World. This was evident in their Books and Actions. They were sick of self-love, and did many things to satisfy the Eye. They led their lives as in a Scene, where one person is within, and another is represented without, by an Artificial imitation of what is true. They were swelled with presumption, having little merit, and a great deal of vanity. Now this respect to the Opinion of others, corrupts the intention, and vitiates the action. 'Tis not sincere Virtue, but a superficial appearance that is regarded. For 'tis sufficient to that purpose, to seem to be virtuous without being so. As a proud person would rather wear counterfeit Pearls that are esteemed right, then right which are esteemed counterfeit.2 So one that is vain-glorious prefers the reputation of being virtuous, before real Virtue. From hence we may discover that many of their most specious Actions were disguised Sins, their Virtues ⟨p. 348⟩were false as their Deities. Upon this account St. Austin condemns the Heroical Actions of the Romans as vicious;3 Virtute civili, non vera, sed veri simili, humanae gloriae servierunt. Pride had a principal part in them.
First,1 To use Vertue as the means to obtain Reputation and Honour in the World. This was evident in their Books and Actions. They were sick of self-love, and did many things to satisfie the Eye. They led their lives as in a Scene, where one person is within, and another is represented without, by an Artificial imitation of what is true. They were swell'd with presumption, having little merit, and a great deal of vanity. Now this respect to the Opinion of others, corrupts the intention, and vitiates the action. 'Tis not sincere Vertue, but a superficial appearance that is regarded. For 'tis sufficient to that purpose, to seem to be vertuous without being so. As a proud person would rather wear counterfeit Pearls that are esteemed right, then right which are esteemed counterfeit.