A55308:262
Speculum theologiæ in Christo, or, A view of some divine truths which are either…
Speculum theologiæ in Christo, or, A view of some divine truths which are either practically exemplified in Jesus Christ, set forth in the Gospel, or may be reasonably deduced from thence / by Edward Polhill ..., Esq.
London: printed by A.M. and R.R. for Tho. Cockerill, 1678
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.
3. The order is considerable: In sinful actions all is not mere ataxy; God hath an holy Line in the midst of the disorder. In Monsters there are aberrations of particular natures, yet Providence is not mistaken. In sins, which are moral monstrosities, the sinning-creature is inordinate; yet Providence is not without an order touching the same. And here we may take notice of a double order; the one looks backwards, and that is the Order of Penalty: The other looks forward, and that is the Order of Conducibility. I shall a little touch upon each of these.
3. The order is considerable: In sinful actions all is not meer ataxy; God hath an holy Line in the midst of the disorder. In Monsters there are aberrations of particular natures, yet Providence is not mistaken. In sins, which are moral monstrosities, the sinning-creature is inordinate; yet Providence is not without an order touching the same. And here we may take notice of a double order; the one looks backwards, and that is the Order of Penalty: The other looks forward, and that is the Order of Conducibility. I shall a little touch upon each of these.
1. The Order of Penalty is considerable, and that under a double notion; the one is this: A sinful action is poena sibiipsi, a punishment to it self. Jussisti, Domine, & sic est, 1ut poena sibi sit omnis inordinatus animus; An inordinate mind is a punishment to it self. Sin (saith the subtle Scotus) as it is fluent from the will, is sin; but as it is resident in the will, it is punishment. Or thus: As it fights and wars against the Law, it is sin; but as it debases and deturpates the soul in its beauty and serenity, it is punishment. A man cannot sin against God, but he wrongs his soul, Prov. 8.36. Jerusalem cannot make Idols against God, but she doth it against her self too, Ezek. 22.3. in respect of this penalty. God doth not suffer dedecus peccati esse sine decore justitiae, no not for a moment. The other is this; One sin is a punishment to another precedent. In general, St. Austin tells us, That between the first sin of Apostasy,