A41537:236
Two discourses I. of the punishment of sin in hell, demonstrating the wrath of…
Two discourses I. of the punishment of sin in hell, demonstrating the wrath of God to be the immediate cause thereof : II. proving a state of glory for just men upon their dissolution / by Tho. Goodwin ...
London: printed by J.D. for Jonathan Robinson, 1693
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.
I shall premise two Maxims, from whence fore-laid the Inference, for the dreadfulness of this will more readily rise, in an infinite height, unto our more serious and sober Apprehensions.
I shall premise two Maxims, from whence fore-laid the Inference, for the dreadfulness of this will more readily rise, in an infinite height, unto our more serious and sober Apprehensiions.
The first: That all things which God doth for his own Glory, he will perform them like himself, that is, like God: and so make the utmost of every thing, that that subject Matter, whatever it be, will afford of Glory to him. This Rule is ascertained to us, as from the Nature of God; so from that saying of the Apostle, Rom. 1. 21. where he condemns the Gentiles, that they glorified him not as God, that is, in such a manner as was worthy of him; they came not up to that height ⟨p. 144⟩of Glory, so great a God must have given unto him from Creatures. Now if it be the Sin of Creatures, that they fall short in glorifying God as God; then be assured that if God himself undertakes and professeth to do a thing for his Glory, he will, in the whole of it, and issue thereof, either glorify himself as God, or never begin to essay or meddle with it, but would have let it alone, for ever.
2. From hence, take this also along with you, to carry it in your view; through each particular that follows: That then, if God seeks to glorify himself in a way of Punishment, that Punishment must be answerably great and proportioned to raise up a Glory unto God, such as shall glorify him, As God, in that way. For it is the Punishment or the Judgment it self which he executes (as the Psalmist says) out of which this Glory must spring. This Punishment, as it is a Punishment, is that, wherein God will be glorified as God. That is, it is the Soil which this Crop of his Glory is to grow up out of, and the Crop or Harvest of Glory can be but what the fertility of that Soil, as such, affords: These things in general fore-laid.