Universal redemption of mankind, by the Lord Jesus Christ stated and cleared by the…

5. In so doing God doth all that belongs to him to do as Legislator: For it must be understood that here he speaks those words [that the World by him might be saved] not as absolute Lord merely or properly, but as Rector per Leges. And it belongs to him as Legislator, only to propound Salvation, to Man as his end: And to promise it on his conditions, and prescribe those conditions and command Man to perform them: And to threaten him with the loss of that end (of Salvation) if he perform them not. But to give Faith, which is the condition it self, doth not belong to God as Legislator. (No Man living can claim the first Act of Faith, or effectual Grace thereto, from God by any promise that he hath made): But he giveth it as Dominus absolutus, and as one that may do with his own as he list. So that it is Finis prescriptus & conditionaliter datus, that is here spoken of; and not Finis Decretus to be by God eventually infallibly accomplished. It is the end of Gods Law, and Legislative Will, and so of God as mere Legislator or Rector per Leges: And not of his decretive Will de eventu, and of God as absolute Lord above Laws, without them disposing of his own. (The prediction of Events doth collaterally and secundum quid belong to his Law: But not per se and directly.)

5. In so doing God doth all that belongs to him to do as Legislator: For it must be understood that here he speaks those words [that the World by him might be saved] not as absolute Lord meerly or properly, but as Rector per Leges. And it belongs to him as Legislator, only to propound Salvation, to Man as his end: And to promise it on his conditions, and prescribe those conditions and command Man to perform them: And to threaten him with the loss of that end (of Salvation) if he perform them not. But to give Faith, which is the condition it self, doth not belong to God as Legislator. (No Man living can claim the first Act of Faith, or effectual Grace thereto, from God by any promise that he hath made): But he giveth it as Dominus absolutus, and as one that may do with his own as he list. So that it is Finis prescriptus & conditionaliter datus, that is here spoken of; aud not Finis Decretus to be by God eventually infallibly accomplished. It is the end of Gods Law, and Legislative Will, and so of God as meer Legislator or Rector per Leges: And not of his decretive Will de eventu, and of God as absolute Lord above Laws, without them disposing of his own. (The prediction of Events doth collaterally and secundum quid belong to his Law: But not per se and directly.)