A55305:145
The divine will considered in its eternal decrees, and holy execution of them. By…
The divine will considered in its eternal decrees, and holy execution of them. By Edward Polhill of Burwash in Sussex Esquire
London : printed, and are to be sold by Thomas Shelmerdine, at the sign of the Rose-Tree in Little-Britain, 1695
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.
4. What is the Impulsive Cause of Reprobation? To which I make answer.
1. As for the Decree of Preterition and Permission of final Sin, it is from God's Will, as clothed with supreme Sovereignty. God passeth by and hardeneth whom he will. This appears in two particulars.
1. As for the Decree of Preterition and Permission of final Sin, it is from God's Will, as cloathed with supreme Sovereignty. God passeth by and hardneth whom he will. This appears in two particulars.
1. First, God doth not give so much as the Gospel-means unto some men. He suffered all nations to walk in their own ways, Acts 14. 16. Some sin and perish without ⟨p. 116⟩Law or Gospel; all the Law they have is the dark glimmering of Nature, and all the Gospel they have is the patience and goodness of God leading to Repentance. The Sun, Moon and Stars are divided to all nations, Dent. 4. 19. but Jesus Christ, a Sun of infinite light and lustre, shines in a narrower compass on the earth than the finite Sun; the Moon is lesser than the Earth, the visible Church than the World of Men. The Apostles, those Stars of light, must not shine in Asia and Bithynia, Acts 16. 6, 7. By what way is this Evangelical Light parted? Surely by the divine Will alone; the difference is not from the worthiness or unworthiness of men: for those in Asia and Bithynia were as good as others. Christ was manifested to a Thief, and not to a Socrates or Plato. Rebellious Israel hath the light of the Word in it, and a more flexible Nation, which would hearken thereunto, wants it,