The Will of God, though in it self it be but one, as in his Essence, yet in respect of the diversity of Objects and Effects, it is called in the Scriptures by divers names, as,
1. Love, whereby is meant God's eternal fgood Will, whereby he ordaineth his Elect to be freely saved through Christ, andg bestoweth on them all necessary graces for this life, and that to come,h taking pleasure in their persons and services.
2. Justice iis Gods constant Will whereby hek recompenseth Men and Angels, according to their works, lpunishing the impenitent according to their deserts, called the justice of his wrath: andm rewarding the faithful, according to his promises, called the justice of his Grace.
3. Mercy, which isn God's mere Good Will, and ready affection to ⟨p. 28⟩forgive a penitent sinner, notwithstanding all his sins and ill deserts.
4. Goodness, owhereby God willingly communicateth his good with his Creatures: and because he communicates it freely, it is termed grace.
5. Truth, wherebyp God willeth constantly those things which he willeth: effecting and performing all things, which he hath spoken, in his appointed time.
6. Patience, whereby God willingly forbeareth to punish the wicked, so long as it may stand with his justice, and until theirq sins be ripened.
Ad poenam tardus Deus est, ad praemia velox.
Sed pensare solet vi graviore moram.
7. Holiness, rwhereby God's Nature is separated from all profaneness: and abhorreth all filthiness: and so being wholly pure in himself, delighteth in the inward and outward purity and chastity of his servants, which he infuseth into them.
8. Anger, swhereby is meant God's ⟨p. 29⟩most certain and just Will in chastening the Elect, and in revenging and punishing the Reprobate, for the injuries they offer to him and his chosen: and when God will punish with rigour and severity, then it is termed Wrath ttemporal to the Elect, ueternal to the Reprobates.
The Will of God, though in it self it be but one, as in his Essence, yet in respect of the diversity of Objects and Effects, it is call'd in the Scriptures by divers names, as,
1. Love, whereby is meant God's eternal fgood Will, whereby he ordaineth his Elect to be freely saved through Christ, andg bestoweth on them all necessary graces for this life, and that to come,h taking pleasure in their persons and services.
2. Justice iis Gods constant Will whereby hek recompenseth Men and Angels, according to their works, lpunishing the impenitent according to their deserts, called the justice of his wrath: andm rewarding the faithful, according to his promises, called the justice of his Grace.
3. Mercy, which isn God's mere Good Will, and ready affection to ⟨p. 28⟩forgive a penitent sinner, notwithstanding all his sins and ill deserts.
4. Goodness, owhereby God willingly communicateth his good with his Creatures: and because he communicates it freely, it is termed grace.
5. Truth, wherebyp God willeth constantly those things which he willeth: effecting and performing all things, which he hath spoken, in his appointed time.
6. Patience, whereby God willingly forbeareth to punish the wicked, so long as it may stand with his justice, and until theirq sins be ripened.
Ad poenam tardus Deus est, ad praemia velox.
Sed pensare solet vi graviore moram.
7. Holiness, rwhereby God's Nature is separated from all prophaneness: and abhorreth all filthiness: and so being wholly pure in himself, delighteth in the inward and outward purity and chastity of his servants, which he infuseth into them.
8. Anger,
- f1 Joh. 3. 1.
- gPsal 45. 7.
- hGen. 4. 4.
- iNorma justitiae divinae est Dei voluntas. Quia enim vult, ideo est justum; non quia justum, ideo vult, Eph. 1. 11.
- kRom. 2. 5. 2 Thes 1. 6, &c. 2 Tim. 4 8. Deut. 7. 9, 10.
- lDeus principium & •inem & media rerum omnium tenens, rectaque lineâ reddens è vestigio habet [Greek or Hebrew] divinae legis vindicem, simul ut quicquam Sanctionism ejus praetermissum est. Aristot. lib. de mundo.Deus principium & •inem & media rerum omnium tenens, rectaque lineâ ••edens è vestigio habet 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 divinae legis vindicem, simul ut quicquam Sanctionism ejus praetermissum est. Aristot. lib. de mundo.
- mRom. 9. 15, 16. Ezek. 16. 6.
- nPsal. 103. 8, &c. Tit. 3. 4. Semper invenies Deum benigniorem quam te culpabiliorem. Serm. 11. Bern. Vindictae gladium, misericordiae oleo semper acuit. Niceph. lib. 17. cap. 3.
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