A64002:1101
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.
If any man were fully possest with a persuasion that this temporal estate were determined in Heaven, and that he should be worth just so much, neither more nor less; he would conclude, that his care and pains could not profit him, nor his idleness impoverish him: and so would be quickly persuaded to take his ease. And if it were evident, that every Common-wealth had a fatal period, beyond which it could not pass, and short of which it could not come, and that all occurrences good or bad, were absolutely preordained by the Almighty, then the King would call no Parliament, use no Privy Counsel: for there would be no use of them at all. As once a famous Privy-Councillor told our late Queen Elizabeth, men would neither make laws nor obey them, but would take the Counsel of the Poet.
If any man were fully possest with a perswasion that this temporall estate were determined in Heaven, and that he should be worth just so much, neither more nor lesse; he would conclude, that his care and paines could not profit him, nor his idlenesse impoverish him: and so would be quickly perswaded to take his ease. And if it were evident, that every Common-wealth had a fatall period, beyond which it could not passe, and short of which it could not come, and that all occurrences good or bad, were absolutely preordained by the Almighty, then the King would call no Parliament, use no Privy Counsell: for there would be no use of them at all. As once a famous Privy-Councellor told our late Queene Elizabeth, men would neither make lawes nor obey them, but would take the Councell of the Poet.
Solvite mortales ammos, curisque levate, Totque supervacuis animum deplete querelis: Fata regunt orbem, certa stant omnia lege.
From these three premises laid together, it follows directly, that the doctrine of an absolute decree, which determines mens ends precisely; is no friend to a Godly life. For if events absolutely decreed be unavoidable; if mens actions about unavoidable ends be unprofitable; it in unprofitable employments men will have no hand willingly: men that know and consider this, will have nothing to do with the practice of Godliness. For their ends being absolutely pitched and therefore unavoidable; they will conclude, that their labour in Religion will be unprofitable, and so will not labour in it at all.