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…

And hereupon it may be expected, ⟨p. 65⟩the more ingenuous, and candid, will allow themselves to think the matter tolerably clear, in reference to the former part of the proposed difficulty; i. e. will apprehend this way of dealing with men not imprudent, or inconsistent with the Divine Wisdom, since, tho one end, in a great part, fail, yet another, more valuable, is attained.

But yet, as to the latter part, the difficulty may still urge, viz. how it can stand with sincerity, whereas that end also which fails, seems to have been most directly intended, that the Blessed God should seem so earnestly intent upon it. Since it is hardly conceivable, that the same thing should be, at once, seriously intended as an end, and yet, at the same time, give the eye, which ⟨p. 66⟩seems to design it; no other prospect, than of a thing never to be brought to pass.

But yet, as to the latter part, the difficulty may still urge, viz. how it can stand with sinceritie, whereas that end also which failes, seems to have been most directly intended, that the Blessed God should seem so earnestly intent upon it. Since it is hardly conceiveable, that the same thing should be, at once, seriously intended as an end, and yet, at the same time, give the eye, which ⟨p. 66⟩seems to design it; no other prospect, than of a thing never to be brought to pass.

Wherefore we are next to consider, that we may proceed gradually, And not omit to say what is in it self considerable; tho it is not all (which cannot be said at once) that is to be said; That the public declarations of the Divine Will, touching man's duty, do attain that very end [his obedient compliance therewith] in great part, and as to may (although it be foreknown they will prove ineffectual with the most) and are the no less successful, than the apt means of attaining it.