A44687:180
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.
And since the Event forbids us to admit that God did ever will the obedience and felicity of all, with such a VVill as should be effective thereof; if yet his plain Word shall be acknowledged the measure of our belief, in this matter, which so plainly asserts him someway to will the salvation of all men, 'tis strange if, hereupon, we shall not admit rather of a will not-effective of the thing willed, than none at all.
The VVill of God is sufficiently to be vindicated from all imperfection, if he have sufficient ⟨p. 118⟩reason for all the propensions, and determinations of it, whether from the value of the things willed, or from his own Sovereignty who wills them.
In the present case, we need not doubt to affirm, that the obedience and felicity of all men, is of that value, as whereunto a propension of will, by only simple complacency is proportionable. Yet, that his not procuring, as to all (by such courses as he more extraordinarily takes with some) that they shall, in event, obey and be happy, is upon so much more valuable reasons (as there will be further occasion to show ere long) as that, not to do it was more eligible, with the higher complacency, of a determinative will.
In the present case, we need not doubt to affirm, that the obedience and felicity of all men, is of that value, as whereunto a propension of will, by only simple complacency is proportionable. Yet, that his not procuring, as to all (by such courses as he more extraordinarily takes with some) that they shall, in event, obey and be happy, is upon so much more valuable reasons (as there will be further occasion to shew ere long) as that, not to do it was more eligible, with the higher complacency, of a determinative will.