Aphorisms of justification, with their explication annexed wherein also is opened the nature of…Aphorismes of justification, with their explication annexed wherein also is opened the nature of…

This distinction of the Will of God into his Will of Purpose and his Will of Precept, is very commonly used by Divines, and explained by some, especially Doctor ⟨p. 2⟩Twice frequently, and Doctor Edward Reignolds, in his Sermons on the Humiliation days, on Hos. 14. Yet is not the exceeding necessity and usefulness of it discerned by many, nor is it improved accordingly by any that I have read: It is near of kin to the common distinction of Voluntas signi, & Beneplaciti, but not the same: The Term [signi] being more comprehensive, yet (in my judgement) less proper and convenient then this [Legislative Will, or voluntas Praecepti:] As the old verse shows, Praecipit ac prohibit, permittit, consulit, implet. Two of these Acts, to wit, Permission and Operation, fall under the Will of Purpose, as they are the effects and revelation of it; but not under the Legislative Will: And indeed the Schoolmen by their Voluntas signi, do intend not other Will, but the same which they call Beneplaciti, whose Object is event, as it is uncertainly represented to us by those five signs: And because they are such uncertain signs (the contrary to what they seem to import; being frequently certain;) therefore they tell us that this is but metaphorically called the Will of God; viz. by a speech borrowed from the manner of men, who signify their Will by such kind of Actions; see Aquin. sum. 1a. 1ae. Quest. 19. Art. 11. 12. And Schibler. Metaph. of this.

THis distinction of the Will of God into his Will of Purpose and his Will of Precept, is very commonly used by Divines, and explained by some, especially Doctor