A32723:2909
Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God
Several discourses upon the existence and attributes of God by that late eminent minister in Christ, Mr. Stephen Charnocke ...
London: printed for D. Newman, 1682
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.
If God be good, 'tis our happiness to adhere to him: If we depart from him, we depart from Goodness, and if Evil happen to us, we cannot blame God but our selves, for our departure. Why are Men happy? Because they cleave to God; Why are Men miserable? Because they recede from God; 'Tis then our own fault that we are miserable; God cannot be charged with any injustice, if we be miserable, since his Goodness gave means to prevent it, and afterwards added means to recover us from it, but all despised by us. The Doctrine of Divine Goodness justifies every Stone laid in the Foundation of Hell, and every Spark in that burning Furnace, since it is for the abuse of Infinite Goodness, that it was kindled.
If God be good, 'tis our happiness to adhere to him: If we depart from him, we depart from Goodness, and if Evil happen to us, we cannot blame God but our selves, for our departure. Why are Men happy? Because they cleave to God; Why are Men miserable? Because they recede from God; 'Tis then our own fault that we are miserable; God cannot be charg'd with any injustice, if we be miserable, since his Goodness gave means to prevent it, and afterwards added means to recover us from it, but all despis'd by us. The Doctrine of Divine Goodness justifies every Stone laid in the Foundation of Hell, and every Spark in that burning Furnace, since it is for the abuse of Infinite Goodness, that it was kindled.
4. The fourth Information, Here is a certain Argument, both for Gods fitness to govern the World, and his actual Government of it.
1. This renders him fit for the Government of the World, and gives him a full Title to it. This Perfection doth the Psalmist Celebrate throughout the 107 Psalm, where he declares Gods Works of Providence, vers. 8, 15, 21, 32. Power without goodness would deface, instead of preserving; Ruin is the fruit of rigour without kindness; But God because of his infinite and immutable goodness cannot do any thing unworthy of himself, and uncomely in it self, or destructive to any Moral goodness in the Creature. 'Tis impossible he should do any thing that is base, or act any thing but for the best, because