They that have any Notion of God, cannot think Grace unworthy of him. Some of the Epicurean Faith, that thought it unsuitable to the Nature of God to be touched with Anger (and who might therefore think our Infelicities to befall us of course, without being any effects of divine displeasure) yet were less averse to think he might be touched with Grace, (as *Lactantius takes notice,) and so left themselves room for the apprehension, that our Felicity should be owing to the Benignity and Favour of God. But what thoughts of Him can be more unworthy, or less agreeing with themselves, than, while he is acknowledged to be a ⟨image 4⟩Mind, a Spirit, the first, eternal Mind, and the Father of Spirits, to suppose he should be less kind, benign, and gracious to our Minds, and Spirits, than to our baser Flesh? Or that they who expect from his favour a state of future freedom from bodily pains, diseases, and death, should not expect from it much more a Felicity suitable to their Nobler part? and seek thence what is of so apparent necessity, beforehand, to prepare and form their Minds and spirits for such a Felicity?
They that have any Notion of God, cannot think Grace unworthy of him. Some of the Epicurean Faith, that thought it unsuitable to the Nature of God to be toucht with Anger (and who might therefore think our Infelicities to befall us of course, without being any effects of divine displeasure) yet were less averse to think he might be toucht with Grace, (as *Lactantius takes notice,) and so left themselves room for the apprehension, that our Felicity should be owing to the Benignity and Favour of God. But what thoughts of Him can be more unworthy, or less agreeing with themselves, than, while he is acknowledg'd to be a ⟨image 4⟩Mind, a Spirit, the first, eternal Mind, and the Father of Spirits, to suppose he should be less kind, benign, and gracious to our Minds, and Spirits, than to our baser Flesh? Or that they who expect from his favour a state of future freedom from bodily pains, diseases, and death, should not expect from it much more a Felicity suitable to their Nobler part? and seek thence what is of so apparent necessity, beforehand, to prepare and form their Minds and spirits for such a Felicity?
- *De Irâ Dei.
