7. So that he thus unfeignedly willeth the Conversion of those that never will be Converted, but not as Absolute Lord, with the fullest efficacious Resolution, nor as a thing which he resolveth shall undoubtedly come to pass, or would engage all his power to accomplish. It is in the power of a Prince to set a guard upon a Murderer to see that he shall not murder and be hanged. But if upon good reason he forbear this, and do but send to his subjects, and warn and entreat them not to be murderers, I hope he may well say that he would not have them murder and be ⟨p. 88⟩hanged; he takes no pleasure in it, but rather that they forbear and live. And if he do more for some, upon some special reason, he is not bound to do so by all. The King may well say to all the Murderers and Felons in the Land, [I have no pleasure in your death, but rather that you would obey my Laws and live: but If you will not, I am resolved for all this that you shall die.] The Judge may truly say to the Thief or Murderer, [Alas man, I have no delight in thy death: I had rather thou hadst kept the Law, and saved thy life; but seeing thou wilt not, I must condemn thee, or else I should be unjust.] So though God have no Pleasure in your damnation, and therefore calls upon you to Return and Live, yet he hath Pleasure in the demonstration of his own Justice, and the executing his Laws, and therefore he is for all this fully resolved, ⟨p. 89⟩that if you will not be Converted, you shall be Condemned. If God were so much against the death of the wicked, as that he were resolved to do all that he can to hinder it, then no man should be Condemned: whereas Christ telleth you that few will be saved. But so far God is against your damnation, as that he will teach you, and warn you, and set before you life and death, and offer you your choice, and command his Ministers to entreat you not to damn your selves, but accept his Mercy, and so to leave you without excuse; but if this will not do, and if still you be Unconverted, he professeth to you, he is resolved of your damnation, and hath commanded us to say to you in his name, Verse 8. O wicked man, thou shalt surely die! And Christ hath little less then sworn it over and over, with a Verily, verily, ⟨p. 90⟩except ye be Converted, and born again, ye cannot enter into the Kingdom of heaven, Matth. 18.3. John 3.3.
7. So that he thus unfeignedly willeth the Conversion of those that never will be Converted, but not as Absolute Lord, with the fullest efficacious Resolution, nor as a thing which he resolveth shall undoubtedly come to pass, or would engage all his power to accomplish. It is in the power of a Prince to set a guard upon a Murderer to see that he shall not murder and be hanged. But if upon good reason he forbear this, and do but send to his subjects, and warn and intreate them not to be murderers, I hope he may well say that he would not have them murder and be ⟨p. 88⟩hanged; he takes no pleasure in it, but rather that they forbear and live. And if he do more for some, upon some special reason, he is not bound to do so by all. The King may well say to all the Murderers and Felons in the Land, [I have no pleasure in your death, but rather that you would obey my Laws and live: but If you will not, I am resolved for all this that you shall die.] The Judge may truly say to the Thief or Murderer, [Alas man, I have no delight in thy death: I had rather thou hadst kept the Law, and saved thy life; but seeing thou wilt not, I must condemn thee, or else I should be unjust.] So though God have no Pleasure in your damnation, and therefore calls upon you to Return and Live, yet he hath Pleasure in the demonstration of his own Iustice, and the executing his Laws, and therefore he is for all this fully resolved, ⟨p. 89⟩that if you will not be Converted, you shall be Condemned. If God were so much against the death of the wicked, as that he were resolved to do all that he can to hinder it, then no man should be Condemned: whereas Christ telleth you that few will be saved. But so far God is against your damnation, as that he will teach you, and warn you, and set before you life and death, and offer you your choice, and command his Ministers to intreate you not to damn your selves, but accept his Mercy, and so to leave you without excuse; but if this will not do, and if still you be Unconverted, he professeth to you, he is resolved of your damnation, and hath commanded us to say to you in his name, Verse 8. O wicked man, thou shalt surely die! And Christ hath little less then sworn it over and over, with a Verily, verily, ⟨p. 90⟩except ye be Converted, and born again, ye cannot enter into the Kingdom of heaven, Matth. 18.3. Iohn 3.3.
