A44687:102
The reconcilableness of God's prescience of the sins of men with the wisdom and…The reconcileableness of God's prescience of the sins of men with the wisdom and…
The reconcilableness of God's prescience of the sins of men with the wisdom and sincerity of his counsels, exhortations, and whatsoever other means he uses to prevent them / in a letter to the Honourable Robert Boyle Esq.The reconcileableness of God's prescience of the sins of men with the wisdom and sincerity of his counsels, exhortations, and whatsoever other means he uses to prevent them / in a letter to the Honorable Robert Boyle Esq.
London: printed for Brabazon Aylmer, 1677
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.
§. X.
It may here, before we proceed further, not be unseasonable to consider (A matter, as is known, wont to be much vexed in the Schools) how God may be said to act for any end at all. And it appears very certain, that he, who is so every way absolutely perfect, and happy, cannot be thought to intend, and pursue an end, after the same manner as we are wont to do.
We being conscious to our selves of indigency, or, at the best, of obligation to the Author of our Beings, are wont to design ⟨p. 58⟩this or that end for the relieving of our selves, or the approving our selves to him. And, our satisfaction depending upon the attainment of it, we solicitously deliberate about the fittest means to attain it; and are tossed with various Passions, of desire, and hope, and fear, and joy, and grief, according as the end is apprehended more or less excellent, or likely to be attained; varying often our course upon new emergencies, as this or that may probably promote, or hinder the success of our pursuit. In short, we pursue ends, as being both impatient of disappointment, and uncertain of their attainment.
We being conscious to our selves of indigency, or, at the best, of obligation to the Authour of our Beings, are wont to design ⟨p. 58⟩