The dying man's testament to the Church of Scotland, or, A treatise concerning scandal…

2. We say, that the Lord is no less just, holy and pure in punishing men with such plagues, than when He maketh use of some other rods or judgements, neither is there any thing in this to be attributed to Him, that is unbecoming His absolute purity and holiness. For, 1. He doth not punish any with this plague, but such as have by their former abuse of light and other miscarriages justly deserved the same. 2. He doth not infuse any maliciousness in the heart, nor increase what was, but justly permits ⟨p. 172⟩what is to break out, and overrules the same for His just ends. 3. He doth not strain them to any such course, but doth make use of their own willingness thereunto, and of their free choosing to follow such a way for the glory of His justice. 4. He doth not connive at, nor dispense with the sinful practice of any instrument, but doth really abhor, and will also severely punish the same. So, that as the same act hath a twofold consideration, to wit, •s it is sinful, and as it is penal, So it is diversly to be ascribed, to wit, in the first respect, to man only; and in the last, to Gods overruling providence, who can bring good out of evil, seeing there is nothing so evil, but He can bring some good out of it, and make it subservient to Him, otherwise He that is Omnipotent and only wise, would never suffer it to be.

2. We say, that the Lord is no lesse just, holy and pure in punishing men with such plagues, than when He maketh use of some other rods or judgements, neither is there any thing in this to be attributed to Him, that is unbecoming His absolute purity and holinesse. For, 1. He doth not punish any with this plague, but such as have by their former abuse of light and other miscarriages justly deserved the same. 2. He doth not infuse any maliciousnesse in the heart, nor increase what was, but justly permits ⟨p. 172⟩what is to break out, and overules the same for His just ends. 3. He doth not strain them to any such course, but doth make use of their own willingnesse thereunto, and of their free choosing to follow such a way for the glory of His justice. 4. He doth not connive at, nor dispense with the sinfull practice of any instrument, but doth really abhor, and will also severely punish the same. So, that as the same act hath a twofold consideration, to wit, •s it is sinfull, and as it is penall, So it is diversly to be ascribed, to wit, in the first respect, to man only; and in the last, to Gods overruling providence, who can bring good out of evil, seing there is nothing so evil, but He can bring some good out of it, and make it subservient to Him, otherwise He that is Omnipotent and only wise, would never suffer it to be.