Cain and Abel malignity that is, enmity to serious godliness, that is, to an…

§ 1. THE depraved and miserable condition of Mankind, hath long been the astonishing wonder of the sober and inquisitive part of the world: Philosophers were puzzled with the difficult questions, whence it first came? and why it is no more remedied? Christians are taught by the sacred Scriptures how to answer both, by laying it on mans misusing of his free will, supposing Gods permission of his trial and temptations; and on his resistance and rejection of remedying grace, in the degree that it is vouchsafed or offered. But still there are difficulties, and our understandings are dark, and hardly satisfied. And whence ever it comes, the case is doleful, and we cannot but think of it with astonishment and lamentation. When we saw an hundred thousand made dead corps by the London Plague 1665. it did not take off the terror to know how it begun. And when we saw the City on a dreadful flame, which none could stop, it cured not the general astonishment to conjecture how it was kindled or carried on: No doubt but Hell it self proclaimeth that God is Holy, Wise and Just, and ⟨p. 2⟩Devils and Men are the cause of their own everlasting punishment. But yet if we had a sight of it, amazement and dread would overwhelm us. And, alas! what a Map of Hell is the greatest part of Earth? Hell is a place of Lying, Malignant and murderous, hurtful Spirits, miserable by and for their wickedness: And is not this in a lower degree, a true description of most of the Earth?

§ 1. THE depraved and miserable condition of Mankind, hath long been the astonishing wonder of the sober and inquisitive part of the world: Philosophers were puzzled with the difficult questions, whence it first came? and why it is no more remedied? Christians are taught by the sacred Scriptures how to answer both, by laying it on mans misusing of his free will, supposing Gods permission of his tryal and temptations; and on his resistance and rejection of remedying grace, in the degree that it is vouchsaft or offered. But still there are difficulties, and our understandings are dark, and hardly satisfied. And whence ever it comes, the case is doleful, and we cannot but think of it with astonishment and lamentation. When we saw an hundred thousand made dead corps by the London Plague 1665. it did not take off the terrour to know how it begun. And when we saw the City on a dreadful flame, which none could stop, it cured not the general astonishment to conjecture how it was kindled or carried on: No doubt but Hell it self proclaimeth that God is Holy, Wise and Iust, and