A64002:1324
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.
Indeed these grounds of hope and comfort, a Minister cannot make use of, that holds absolute Reprobation. What sober man would expect he should: but such a one is never a whit the worse comforter for that; For as for these grounds, I have already discovered them, to be void of all truth, of all sobriety. For if men be not absolutely Reprobated from the grace of faith and of repentance, but conditionally, (For as for the denying of glory, or inflicting damnation, we utterly deny that God hath decreed ⟨p. 281⟩that they shall have their course absolutely according to the mere pleasure of his will, having made a Law according whereunto he purposeth to proceed therein) it became this Author, performing the part of a Comforter on this ground, to make known the condition which he utterly declineth. And with all I have showed the reasons of his carriage thus in Hugger Mugger, to wit, that their shameful Tenets might not break forth, and be brought to light, We abhor to say that God gives the grace of faith and repentance according to mens works; We abhor to say that God works in men the act of believing and repenting, provided they will believe and repent; or that he works in them the [Greek or Hebrew] veil of every good work modovelint. But our consolations proceed, as I have showed, in this manner, If any man man doth believe and repent, we can assure such a one by our doctrine that he is an elect of God; this Arminians by their doctrine cannot, as who maintain that a true believer may fall a way from grace and be damned; which is to hold the souls of the best children of God upon the rack of fears, and terrors, and tortures continually, and make them walk as it were upon pinnacles of the Temple; for they have no assurance of steadfastness, but in their own wills, to keep them from dropping into Hell fire, which burneth under them. If men do not believe and repent; we will enquire into the cause of their fears & grounds of their apprehensions that they are Reprobates; and show that they have no just cause for such apprehensions whether it be the conscience of their sin; or want of faith that doth affright them; For as much as the holiest men living before their calling, had as great cause to be affrighted as they; yet had they thereupon conceived themselves to be Reprobates, this had been but an erroneous conceit.
Indeed these grounds of hope and comfort, a Minister cannot make use of, that holds absolute Reprobation. What sober man would expect he should: but such a one is never a whit the worse comforter for that; For as for these grounds, I have already discovered them, to be voyd of all truth, of all sobriety. For if men be not absolutely Reprobated from the grace of faith and of repentance, but conditionally, (For as for the denying of glory, or inflicting damnation, we utterly deny that God hath decreed