An end of doctrinal controversies which have lately troubled the churches

§. 6. God effecteth much without which Sin could not be, (as the Life and Power of the Sinners, his abused Mercies, Objects, &c.) Therefore all this he decreed to do, even as his own Works, which Sinners make the occasions of their Sin.

§. 7. If it be said that God permitteth Sin; therefore he decreed to permit it: These things must be answered. 1. Permission is an ambiguous word: Strictly it signifieth in Physics nothing at all but a m•er Negation, which is non impedire, not to hinder: But in Politics it oft signifieth a positive Licence or voluntary Concession of Leave for a man to do or possess something: And many Divines by Permission mean not bare non-impedition, but also some action that tendeth to the procuring of the event. In the first and proper sense▪ it▪ followeth not that God decreed to permit Sin, because he ••rmitteth it: For permitting here is but a bare ⟨p. 42⟩verb, and signifieth nothing: Not-to-hinder is merely nothing: And nothing is no terminus to denominate Gods Decree or Will. But as permitting signifieth any positive act, which men make an occasion of Sin, it is improperly called Permission, and it was spoken of before: And though God's general Influx be presupposed, that is not Permission, nor part of Permission.

§. 7. If it be said that God permitteth Sin; therefore he decreed to permit it: These things must be answered. 1. Permission is an ambiguous word: Strictly it signifieth in Physicks nothing at all but a m•er Negation, which is non impedire, not to hinder: But in Politicks it oft signifieth a positive Licence or voluntary Concession of Leave for a man to do or possess something: And many Divines by Permission mean not bare non-impedition, but also some action that tendeth to the procuring of the event. In the first and proper sence▪ it followeth not that God decreed to permit Sin, because he rmitteth it: For permitting here is but a bare