A26796:76
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. 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.
2. Prodigious Pride. He was scarce out of the state of nothing, no sooner created, but he aspir'd 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 Soveraignty, to command without dependance; of his Wisdome, 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.
- 1The promise of the Tempter that they should not die, encouraged him to believe that he should enjoy an Immortality, not depending on Gods Will, but absolute; which is proper to God alone.
3. Horrid Ingratitude. He was appointed Heir apparent of all things; yet undervaluing his present portion, he entertains a project of improving his Happiness. The excellent state newly conferred upon him, was a strong obligation to pay so small an acknowledgement to his Lord. The use of all the Garden was allowed to him, only a Tree excepted. Now in the midst of such variety and plenty, to be inflamed with the intemperate appetite of the forbidden Fruit, and to break a Command so equal and easy, what was it but a despising the rich Goodness of his great Benefactor. Besides, Man was endued with a diviner Spirit than the inferior order of Creatures: Reason and Liberty were the special privileges of his Nature, and to abuse them to Rebellion, renders him as more unreasonable, so more disingenuous than the Creatures below him, who inflexibly obey the Will of God.