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

Also observe, that you must here carefully distinguish between Gods Act in making a Law, and the Moral Act of that Law, or of his will by that Law when it is made. I call not Legislation it self [Gods will de Debito] or, [his Legislative will.] His ordaining the sign it self, or making the Law which is his instrument, is an Act of his will de rerum Eventu vel Naturae For it only maketh ⟨p. 31⟩that instrument or sign by which Right shall be after produced; but doth not directly thereby produce that Right. But it is the signification and Moral Act of that Law, which floweth from its Nature which doth produce Right, and which we here intend. The Scribe that writes a Statute, and the Sovereign himself, in composing the Matter, Order and Terms, doth but make that Signum or Instrument, which being made doth therefore Institute Right, because it signifieth the Sovereigns will to institute it. So much for the explication of my meaning in this Distinction.

2. Next I shall say somewhat to prove the soundness of it, which is therefore necessary, because some ignorant persons laugh at it; as if we feigned two wills in God, and one of them contrary to the other. Otherwise, to men of understanding it is not very needful: And therefore I shall say but this briefly▪ It is not two Wills in God, as two distinct Essences or Faculties that I assert; but only two distinct Acts: Distinct, I say, in regard of their distinct products or Effects, and so to mans apprehension, though in God, we say there, is no diversity or distinction. Yet as we cannot handsomely conceive of his will to save Peter, and his will to damn Judas, as one act, having such different Effects; so it is here. Who knows not that Naturality and Morality. Physics and Ethics, Event and Right are different things, and consequently we may and must distinguish of Gods willing them accordingly. When a Man saith, [You shall do this,] preceptively, he doth only say [It shall be your duty to do it] but saith not that eventually you shall do it. Nor are his words false if you never do it. He that saith ⟨p. 32⟩