A26935:34
Gods goodness vindicated for the help of such (especially in melancholy) as are tempted…
Gods goodness vindicated for the help of such (especially in melancholy) as are tempted to deny it, and think him cruel, because of the present and future misery of mankind, with respect to the doctrine of reprobation and damnation / by Richard Baxter ... ; published and prefaced by a friend at whose desire it was written, and to whom it was committed.
London: printed for N. Simmons, 1671
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Quest. 17. And tell me, Is he fit to entertain suspicions and quarrels with God▪ who knoweth God to be God▪ and knoweth himself to be but a man; I speak not only in respect of our inferiority, as the Potsherd should not quarrel with the Potter: But in respect of our great and certain Ignorance: Are we not puzzled about the poorest Worm and pile of Grass (whose manifold mysteries no Mortal man can yet Discover) Are we not grossly ignorant about every thing (even visible and palpable) ⟨p. 43⟩which we see, and touch and have to do with: Do we not know that we know but little, even of our selves, or of any thing about us in the world? And shall the darkened soul, while it must operate in such a puddle of brains and humours, be so madly proud, as to presume of a knowledge, which findeth out errors and badness in God, who is infinitely wise and good? Nothing is more sure than that God is most wise and Good; and nothing should be easilier known to us, than that we are very blind and bad: And if such wretches then cannot reconcile ⟨p. 44⟩their thoughts about Gods works, should they not rather suspect themselves than him? suspect, did I say? should they not take it as the surest verity, that it is, God, that is not only Justifiable, but infinitely Amiable and Laudable, and that it is worse than brutishness, for such Moles to be his accusers?
Quest. 17. And tell me, Is he fit to entertain suspicions and quarrels with God▪ who knoweth God to be God▪ and knoweth himself to be but a man; I speak not only in respect of our inferiority, as the Potsheard should not quarrel with the Potter: But in respect of our great and certain Ignorance: Are we not puzzled about the poorest Worm and pile of Grass (whose manifold mysteries no Mortal man can yet Discover) Are we not grosly ignorant about every thing (even visible and palpable)