A64002:1163
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.
And the word of God is a powerful means to work them hereunto, even to the working out of their Salvation with fear and trembling, & that because they are given to understand that God is he who worketh in them both the will 1and the deed according to his good pleasure. On the other side if a man be ordained to damnation, yet seeing no man is ordained to be damned but for despising the means of grace in case he hear the Gospel; & for ought any man knows he may as well be ordained to salvation as to damnation; this I should think, is rather an excitement not to despise or neglect the means of grace, then to despise or neglect them. Suppose God should ⟨p. 253⟩not damn any man, but annihilate them, and suppose this were known unto us; by the same argumentation it would follow, that a man should have no care of good works: But this consequent is notoriously untrue. For seeing the perfection of my reasonable nature, whereby I differ from brute Beasts, consisteth in knowledge and moral virtues; and there is no knowledge that doth more ennoble us, then the knowledge of God, and no better rule of morality, then the law of God; surely it stood me upon in reason, to strive according to my power to know God, and to be obedient rather then otherwise; although I know for certain, that after certain years, both body and soul should be returned unto nothing. Come we now to the consideration of this reasoning, in respect of grace. Suppose God hath elected me unto grace; yet seeing he bestows not grace but by his word, therefore there is no reason I should neglect the use of his word, but rather good reason why I should embrace it, and that with all earnestness. Like as in case God hath ordained I shall have Children, doth it hence follow that I need not use the company of a Woman; because seeing God hath decreed I shall have Children, therefore I may be sure to have them, whether I company with a Woman or no, belike right as Capons come by Chicken? On the other side, suppose God hath not ordained me unto grace; yet hence it followeth not, that I should neglect all care of moral virtue, yea or the use of Gods word. First not of moral virtue; for next unto grace, moral virtue commends a man, and like as many heathens were famous for morality, without any sanctifying grace; so may I be in the same kind of reputation also.
And the word of God is a powerfull meanes to worke them hereunto, even to the working out of their Salvation with feare and trembling, & that because they are given to understand that God is he who wroketh in them both the will