A26935:38
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. 19. Would you thus argue or quarrel against Gods Greatness and Wisdom, as you do against his Goodness? You suspect him to be unmerciful, because he cureth not mens sins, and preventeth not their damnation. And have you not the like occasion to argue against his other perfections? Do you think he reasoneth soberly that saith, [He that maketh Asses when he might ⟨p. 48⟩have made them men, or maketh Idiots, or maketh stones that know nothing; He that is the Governor of such a foolish, distracted, confused world as mankind is, is foolish himself or unskilful in Government or wanteth wisdom: But God doth thus] Is he not worse than a fool that will accuse his God of folly? Doth not the admirable harmony of all the world, and his wonderful work in every Creature, prove his incomprehensible Wisdom? And what would you say to him that should thus reason [He that maketh impotent worms, that suffereth the Good to die, that suffereth ⟨p. 49⟩the Tyrants of the Earth to persecute his Church and cause, is Impotent, and not Almighty: But so doth God] Would you not say, [I have the wonderful frame of Heaven, and Earth, the Sun and Stars, the Sea and Land to prove to me that he is Almighty. This therefore is a proved foundation truth, to which all doubts must be reduced:] And if you dare not be so impudent as to deny his Omniscience or Omnipotence, when you think there is error or impotency in his works: Why will you any more deny his Goodness, when you dream that there is badness in his works? ⟨p. 50⟩Do you not know that Power, Wisdom and Goodness are Gods Three essential Principles of Operation, Virtues, or Properties? And that they are none of them greater or less than other? And that his Goodness (though not as to be measured by humane Interest) is equal to his Wisdom and his greatness? And do you not know that to deny any one of the three, yea to deny the perfection of any one of them, is to deny that there is any God? And is he sober that will argue [There are Frogs and Toads there are Worms and Asses there are fools and miserable