A26796:77
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.
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.
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 conferr'd upon him, was a strong obligation to pay so small an acknowledgment 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 inflam'd with the intemperate appetite of the forbidden Fruit, and to break a Command so equal and easie, what was it but a despising the rich Goodness of his great Benefactor. Besides, Man was endued with a diviner Spirit than the inferiour order of Creatures: Reason and Liberty were the special priviledges 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.
4. The visible Contempt of God's Majesty, with a slighting his Justice. For the Prohibition was so ⟨p. 27⟩express and terrible, that till he had cast off all respects to the Lawgiver, 'twas not possible he should venture to disobey him. The Sin of Adam is therefore called by the Apostle, Disobedience;