A26796:74
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. Of Envy; As if he had denied them the perfections becoming the humane Nature; and they might ascend to a higher Orb, than that wherein they were placed, by eating the forbidden fruit. And what greater disparagement could there be of the Divine Goodness, than to suspect the Deity of such a low and base Passion, which is the special character of the Angels of Darkness.
1. Of Envy; As if he had deni'd them the perfections becoming the humane Nature; and they might ascend to a higher Orb, than that wherein they were placed, by eating the forbidden fruit. And what greater disparagement could there be of the Divine Goodness, than to suspect the Deity of such a low and base Passion, which is the special character of the Angels of Darkness.
And 'twas equally injurious to the honour of God's Truth. For it is not easy to conceive that Adam who was so lately the effect of Gods Omnipotence should presently distrust it as unable to inflict the punishment threatened, but his assent was weakened as to the truth of the threatening: He did not believe the danger to be so great or certain upon his Disobedience. And he that believes not God, 1makes him a Liar. An impiety not to be thought on without horror. And that which heightens the affront, is, that when he distrusted the Fountain of Truth, he gave credit to the Father of Lies; as appears by his compliance, the real evidence of his Faith. Now what viler contumely could be offered to the Creator.
And 'twas equally injurious to the honour of God's Truth. For it is not easy to conceive that Adam who was so lately the effect of Gods Omnipotence should presently distrust it as unable to inflict the punishment threatned, but his assent was weakened as to the truth of the threatening: He did not believe the danger to be so great or certain upon his Disobedience. And he that believes not God, 1makes him a Liar. An impiety not to be thought on without horror. And that which heightens the affront, is, that when he distrusted the Fountain of Truth, he gave credit to the Father of Lies; as appears by his compliance, the real evidence of his Faith. Now what viler contumely could be offered to the Creator.