A27064:1185
Universal redemption of mankind, by the Lord Jesus Christ stated and cleared by the…
Universal redemption of mankind, by the Lord Jesus Christ stated and cleared by the late learned Mr. Richard Barter [sic] ; whereunto is added a short account of Special redemption, by the same author.
London: printed for John Salusbury, 1694
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.
7. They that have least improved their Talents, and have least Grace, shall have least Glory: God is enjoyed hereafter in various degrees according to mens various capacities; therefore that defect of Grace, or that sin here which caused their less degree of Glory did not work for their greater good. Yet I confess, 1. That God may and oft doth make sin an occasion of good to his People. 2. And always brings good out of it to his own Glory; But he hath not ⟨p. 403⟩Promised that every believers sin shall work together for good to him.
8. The word [working together] expresseth a causality, and a concausality with God, which cannot be ascribed to sin, it being at the best but an occasion of good.
2. If this Promise were so to be understood, it were nothing against what I say: And if it do extend to all sufferings as well as those for Christ, yet it is not against it. For it proves no more but that they are chastisements that shall produce a greater good than the suffering is evil. But yet chastisements are punishments, and the evil is still evil though it occasion good: It is evil in it self or directly, it doth us good but by accident. Or whatsoever you conclude of chastisements in suffering, certainly it is a heavy Punishment when God permitteth his People to sin (as he did David, Peter, &c.) yet such as Christ hath Died for do suffer this Punishment. Again, is not Original sin the loss of Gods Image, and the pravity of Nature a Punishment for the first sin? I mean Gods withdrawing his Grace, which is the Antecedent.