An end of doctrinal controversies which have lately troubled the churches

§. 15. When one and the same word doth signify both the Sin and the Effect of the Sin, it occasioneth the error of men that cannot distinguish: And so if the Scripture should say, That God is the Cause of it, they think it includeth the Sin with the Effect. So Murder signifieth both the will and action of the Murderer, and the death of the man murdered as the effect: Absalom's Constuprations signifieth both his sinful will and action, and the effect of both: The revolt of the Israelites from Jeroboam; the giving up of Kingdoms to the Beast, and many such-like, in Scripture are ascribed to God as the Cause, not as the words signify the sinful will and action of the Malefactor, but only ⟨p. 87⟩the produced effect of both (saving when God's permission only is understood.)

§. 15. When one and the same word doth signifie both the Sin and the Effect of the Sin, it occasioneth the error of men that cannot distinguish: And so if the Scripture should say, That God is the Cause of it, they think it includeth the Sin with the Effect. So Murder signifieth both the will and action of the Murderer, and the death of the man murdered as the effect: Absolom's Constuprations signifieth both his sinful will and action, and the effect of both: The revolt of the Israelites from Ieroboam; the giving up of Kingdoms to the Beast, and many such-like, in Scripture are ascribed to God as the Cause, not as the words signifie the sinful will and action of the Malefactor, but only ⟨p. 87⟩the produced effect of both (saving when God's permission only is understood.)

§. 16. They that deride it as absurd, that God should decree, will and cause the Effect, and not the Wills forbidden Act, are too bold with God, in measuring his Counsels and Actions by the rule of their vain Imaginations: Yet many give us, instead of Scripture and Reason, but such a confident derision, and say, [How absurd is it to say that God willed, decreed and caused that Christ should be murdered, and yet willed, decreed or caused not that any should murder him? That God should will and cause David's Concubines to be defiled, and not will or cause that Absalom should defile them? That He should will and cause the Kingdom to be rent from Rehoboam, and yet not cause any one to will or do it? &c.] But is all false that is not agreeable to their imagination? Or is this a convincing way of reasoning? It is not from imperfection but perfection that God doth not will or cause mens Sin: But it is from his perfection that he causeth the effect, as being the Lord and Ruler of the World. Sin is not a capable Object of God's Volition, or an effect which he can cause: But the effect is, God cannot love or cause Juda 's will or act (in specie) of betraying Christ, nor the Jews will or act in murdering him: But God can will and cause, that Christ shall be betrayed and killed, by such individual persons as he foreknew were by their wickedness disposed thereunto.