A44687:96
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.
We will, for discourse sake, suppose a Prince, endowed with the Gift or Spirit of Prophecy. This, most will acknowledge a great perfection, added to whatsoever other his accomplishments. And suppose we this his Prophetic ability ⟨p. 53⟩so large, as to extend to most events that shall fall out within his dominions. Is it hereby become unfit for him to govern his Subjects by Laws? or any way admonish them of their duty? Hath this Perfection so much diminished him as to depose him from his Government?
We will, for discourse sake, suppose a Prince, endowed with the Gift or Spirit of Prophecy. This, most will acknowledg a great perfection, added to whatsoever other his accomplishments. And suppose we this his Prophetic ability ⟨p. 53⟩so large, as to extend to most events that shall fall out within his dominions. Is it hereby become unfit for him to govern his Subjects by Lawes? or any way admonish them of their duty? Hath this Perfection so much diminisht him as to depose him from his Government?
It is not indeed to be dissembled, that it were a difficulty to determine, whether such foresight were, for himself, better or worse. Boundless knowledge seems only in a fit conjunction with as unbounded power. But it is altogether unimaginable that it should destroy his relation to his Subjects. As what of it were left, if it should despoil him of his Legislative Power, and capacity of governing according to Laws made by it?
It is not indeed to be dissembled, that it were a difficulty to determine, whether such foresight were, for himself, better or worse. Boundless knowledge seems only in a fit conjunction with as unbounded power. But it is altogether unimaginable that it should destroy his relation to his Subjects. As what of it were left, if it should despoil him of his Legislative Power, and capacity of governing according to Lawes made by it?