A26796:706
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.
4. Jesus Christ hath presented the strongest inducements and motives to persuade us to Holiness. The way which he takes to save us, is not by a mere act of Power to raise us above our selves, but he deals with us conveniently to our frame, in making use of our Affections to bring us to himself. And whereas there are three Affections that have a mighty power over the reasonable Nature, and are the inward ⟨p. 380⟩springs of humane actions, viz. Fear, Hope, and Love; He hath propounded such Objects to them, which being duly considered, are infinitely more efficacious than any thing that may divert us from our duty. The great temptations to sin are from the terrors or delights of Sense, and to overcome these, he hath brought to our assistance the Powers of the World to come: that is, hath revealed the dreadful preparations for the Punishment of the Wicked, and the Glorious Rewards that attend the Godly in their future State.
4. Jesus Christ hath presented the strongest inducements and motives to perswade us to Holiness. The way which he takes to save us, is not by a meer act of Power to raise us above our selves, but he deals with us conveniently to our frame, in making use of our Affections to bring us to himself. And whereas there are three Affections that have a mighty power over the reasonable Nature, and are the inward ⟨p. 380⟩springs of humane actions, viz. Fear, Hope, and Love; He hath propounded such Objects to them, which being duely considered, are infinitely more efficacious than any thing that may divert us from our duty. The great temptations to sin are from the terrors or delights of Sense, and to overcome these, he hath brought to our assistance the Powers of the World to come: that is, hath revealed the dreadful preparations for the Punishment of the Wicked, and the Glorious Rewards that attend the Godly in their future State.
Now to discover the efficacy of those Objects for the persuading Men to be Holy I will consider, 1. Their Greatness, as 'tis described in the Gospel. 2. Their Truth and Reality, of which our Saviour hath given us convincing evidence and assurance.