A26796:75
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.
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.
2. Prodigious Pride. He was scarce out of the state of nothing, no sooner created, but he aspired to be as God. Not content with his Image, he affected an equality,1 to be like him in his inimitable Attributes. He would rob God of his Eternity to live without end; of his Sovereignty, to command without dependence; of his Wisdom, to know all things without reserve. Infinite Insolence! and worthy of the most fiery indignation. That Man the Son of the Earth, forgetful of his Original, should usurp the Prerogatives which are essential to the Deity, and set up himself a real Idol, was a strain of that arrogancy which corrupted the Angels.