A64002:1070
The riches of Gods love unto the vessels of mercy, consistent with his absolute…The riches of Gods love unto the vessells of mercy, consistent with his absolute…
The riches of Gods love unto the vessels of mercy, consistent with his absolute hatred or reprobation of the vessels of wrath, or, An answer unto a book entitled, Gods love unto mankind ... in two books, the first being a refutation of the said book, as it was presented in manuscript by Mr Hord unto Sir Nath. Rich., the second being an examination of certain passages inserted into M. Hord's discourse (formerly answered) by an author that conceals his name, but was supposed to be Mr Mason ... / by ... William Twice ... ; whereunto are annexed two tractates of the same author in answer unto D.H. ... ; together with a vindication of D. Twice from the exceptions of Mr John Goodwin in his Redemption redeemed, by Henry Jeans ...The riches of Gods love unto the vessells of mercy, consistent with his absolute hatred or reprobation of the vessells of wrath, or, An answer unto a book entituled, Gods love unto mankind ... in two bookes, the first being a refutation of the said booke, as it was presented in manuscript by Mr Hord unto Sir Nath. Rich., the second being an examination of certain passages inserted into M. Hords discourse (formerly answered) by an author that conceales his name, but was supposed to be Mr Mason ... / by ... William Twisse ... ; whereunto are annexed two tractates of the same author in answer unto D.H. ... ; together with a vindication of D. Twisse from the exceptions of Mr John Goodwin in his Redemption redeemed, by Henry Jeanes ...
Oxford: printed by L.L. and H.H. for Tho. Robinson, 1653
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.
The fear of Hell is a curb to hold men in from wickedness I willingly confess, but the knowledge hereof is not natural, but by revelation divine, which to carnal men who live by fight is of little force: Witness the story of the Welsh-man who robbing an honest man upon the high way, and being told by him, that he should answer for it at the day of judgement, sayest thou me so (quoth the thief) and wilt thou trust me till that day, then give me thy cloak too. We find by experience, the most unclean person, if he meets with never so beautiful a piece, yet if he knows she hath the Pox; the fear of infection will be of more power to restrain him then the fear of Hell. Yet God by his word works in men, (even in carnal men) as a taste of the sweetness of Heaven, so of the bitterness of Hell; the one to erect with hope, the other to awe with fear: and in both respects they may be said (in my judgement) to have a taste of the powers of the World to come. And like as the Law was added because of transgression, that is, to restrain transgression, as some expound it: so likewise the representation of Gods wrath and jealousy, may in the sanctions thereof have good force in this. And in the Godly also I make no question, but it is of good use; though the love of God, hath in great measure overcome that servile fear; yet as their faith is not so perfect, as to be void of all doubting, so neither is their hope so perfect, as to be free from all mixture of fear: But the chaste fear, the filial fear, fear of displeasing God who hath been so gracious unto them, is that fear which is predominant in such. And even fear of Gods fatherly chastisements in this world, is an hedge of thorns keeping them within ⟨p. 224⟩the goodness of the Lord, and far more forcible then the fear of Hell fire to the carnal Gospeller. And this Author doth carry himself very unlearnedly in confounding their differences, and discoursing of the fear of God without distinction; As if the fear of of God in Job. 1. 1. were the fear of Hell, and the fear of the Midwives Exod. 1. 17. As if there were no difference between servile fear, and a filial fear.
The feare of Hell is a curbe to hold men in from wickednesse I willingly confesse, but the knowledge hereof is not naturall, but by revelation divine, which to carnall men who live by fight is of little force: Witnesse the story of the Welch-man who robbing an honest man upon the high way, and being told by him, that he should answer for it at the day of judgement, saist thou me so (quoth the thiefe) and wilt thou trust me till that day, then give me thy cloake too. We finde by experience, the most uncleane person, if he meets with never so beautifull a piece, yet if he knowes shee hath the Poxe; the feare of infection will be of more power to restraine him then the feare of Hell. Yet God by his word workes in men, (even in carnall men) as a tast of the sweetnesse of Heaven, so of the bitternesse of Hell; the one to erect with hope, the other to awe with feare: and in both respects they may be said (in my judgement) to have a tast of the powers of the World to come. And like as the Law was added because of transgression, that is, to restraine transgression, as some expound it: so likewise the representation of Gods wrath and jealousy, may in the sanctions thereof have good force in this. And in the Godly also I make no question, but it is of good use; though the love of God, hath in great measure overcome that servile feare; yet as their faith is not so perfect, as to be voyd of all doubting, so neither is their hope so perfect, as to be free from all mixture of feare: But the chast feare, the filiall feare, feare of displeasing God who hath been so gracious unto them, is that feare which is predominant in such. And even feare of Gods fatherly chastisements in this world, is an hedge of thornes keeping them within