A26796:94
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.
Briefly, Man who by his Creation was the son of God, is made a slave to Satan that damned spirit and most cursed creature. Deplorable Degradation! and worthy of the deepest shame and sorrow.
2. Man lost his Felicity. Besides the trouble ⟨p. 34⟩that Sin hath in its own nature, which I have touched on before, there is a consequent guilt and torment attends it. Adam whilst obedient enjoyed peace with God, a sweet serenity of mind, a divine calm in the Conscience, and full satisfaction in himself. But after his Sin, he trembled at God's Voice and was tormented at his Presence.1 I heard thy voice, and was afraid, saith guilty Adam. He looked on God as angry, and armed against him, ready to execute the severe Sentence; Conscience began an early Hell within him: Paradise with all its Pleasures could not secure him from that sting in his Breast, and that sharpened by the hand of God. What confusion of Thoughts, what a combat of Passions was he in? when the Temptation which deceived him vanished, and his spirit recovered out of the surprise, and took a clear view of his guilt in its true horror, what indignation did it kindle in his Breast? How did Shame, Sorrow, Revenge, Despair, those secret executioners torment his spirit. The intelligent Nature, his peculiar excellency above the brutes, armed misery against him, and put a keener edge to it: 1. By reflecting upon the foolish exchange he made of God himself, for the fruit of a tree; That so slender a Temptation should cheat him of his Blessedness. His present misery is aggravated, by the sad comparison of it with his primitive Felicity. Nothing remains of his first Innocence, but the vexatious regret of having lost it. 2. By the foresight of the Death he deserved. The conscience of his Crimes racked his Soul with the certain and fearful expectation of judgment.
2. Man lost his Felicity. Besides the trouble ⟨p. 34⟩