A30198:82
Reprobation asserted, or, The doctrine of eternal election & reprobation promiscuously handled in eleven…
Reprobation asserted, or, The doctrine of eternal election & reprobation promiscuously handled in eleven chapters wherein the most material objections made by the opposers of this doctrine are fully answered, several doubts removed, and sundry cases of conscience resolved / by John Bunyan.
London: printed for G.L., 1674
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.
Object. But how then is he clear from having a hand in the death of him that perisheth?
Answ. Nothing is more sure then that God could have kept Sin out of the world, if it had been his will; and this is also as true, that it never came into the world with his liking and compliance: And for this, you must consider that Sin came into the world by two steps: 1. By being offered. 2. By prevailing.
Touching the first of these, God without the least injury to any Creature in Heaven or Earth, might not only suffer it, but so far countenance the same: that is, so far forth as for trial only: As it is said of Abraham; God tempted Abraham to slay his only Son, and led Christ by the Spirit into the Wilderness to be tempted of the Devil. This is done without any harm at all; nay, it rather produceth good; for it tends to discover Sincerity, to exercise Faith in, and Love to his Creator; also to put him in mind of the continual need he hath of depending on his God for the continuation of help and strength, and to provoke to Prayers to God, when ever so engaged. Gen. 22.1, 2. Mark 1.12. Luke 4.1 Deut. 8.1, 2, 3. 1 Pet. 1.7, 8. Heb. 5.7. Matth. 26.41.