A treatise of original sin ... proving that it is

Secondly, There is the object matter of this promise, and that is two-fold, I will not curse the ground, neither will I smite any more every living thing, as I have done; God cursed the ground at first upon Adam's fall, but this is meant of the Deluge, as appeareth by the other particular, for by that general flood it is conceived the ground was made worse then before; The meaning then is, That God will not bring any more universal judgement, not but that particular Towns or Nations may be consumed by water or other punishments, but there shall not be such a general one by water any more, no, nor any general punishment; For what comfort would it have been to Noah, if that the world should be preserved only from drowning, if it might have been destroyed any other way; Therefore when at the Day of Judgement the whole world shall either be destroyed or renewed by fire, that will not be so much by way of punishment to the inhabitants, as to change its use, and to prepare for the great alteration, that God is then to make.

Secondly, There is the object matter of this promise, and that is two-fold, I will not curse the ground, neither will I smite any more every living thing, as I have done; God cursed the ground at first upon Adam's fall, but this is meant of the Deluge, as appeareth by the other particular, for by that general floud it is conceived the ground was made worse then before; The meaning then is, That God will not bring any more universal judgement, not but that particular Towns or Nations may be consumed by water or other punishments, but there shall not be such a general one by water any more, no, nor any general punishment; For what comfort would it have been to Noah, if that the world should be preserved only from drowing, if it might have been destroyed any other way; Therefore when at the Day of Judgement the whole world shall either be destroyed or renewed by fire, that will not be so much by way of punishment to the inhabitants, as to change its use, and to prepare for the great alteration, that God is then to make.

Thirdly, There is the aggravation of this mercy; God will do this, Though the imagination of mans heart be evil; This clause is to be considered, first as a Reason, then Absolutely in it self. If as a reason, then here is the difficulty taken notice of, how it can be made the ground why God will not destroy the world, seeing formerly Chap. 6. 5. it is there made the only reason why he would destroy it, can it be the motive for two contrary effects? Some therefore do not make it a reason at all, but part only of the description of Gods promise, he will not destroy the earth again for this sinful disposition, but there must necessarily be some reason, either expressly or tacitly implied, for God is here declaring his purpose to take a more gracious and merciful way, now that he had given such a dreadful demonstration of his justice and anger against sin already: Some then make the reason to be ab incommdo, that if God should destroy the world, because of mans original corruption breaking forth daily, there would never be an end, we should have floods upon floods; Therefore as the Psalmist saith, He remembereth that we are but dust, he knoweth our frame (