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…

For such an one may be in as great oppression when his time comes, as any other is, or hath been, amongst those that have lived before him▪ But rather of such an one as never yet hath been, nor never shall be Now judg whether this can admit any sober sense, unless in a vulgar phrase, according to the intemperate expressions which in time of oppression are uttered by men wherein as Maldonat observes, there is always something hyperbolical, and such as must not be examined according to the subtlety of the Schools. For consider, is there but one such that never yet was, nor ever shall be; or are there many such? If many such, how come they to differ, who have nothing wherein to differ? What a vain imagination is it to talk of particulars that never had, or shall have existence, to ascribe unto them a better condition then is found ¹in them, that have not being only but life also? We know Cicero hath professed & that according to the opinion of Stoics, that a virtuous man may descend into Phallaris his Bull without any destruction of his happy condition. I have consulted Solomo Jarhi upon this place, and he tells us what he hath seen in the Jews Midrach, namely, that there are 974 generations which have grown old and wrinkled from the creation, who yet never were created, and belike the Authors thereof conceive that Solomon spake of one of these. Rabbi Aben Ezra, proposeth the question, how can any better condition be said to be unto him, who was never created. And his answer is, that we must not wonder at such a speech of Solomon; for such speeches have their course. [Greek or Hebrew] by reason of the shortness or straitness of the languages; and therefore we must express our selves figuratively, and to speak hyperbolically is to speak figuratively. I betake me to Mercer hereupon to acquaint my self with his judgment upon this place. Hoc autem dicitur; saith he, semper magnitudine aerumnarum hujus vitae considerata. Coeterum Christus aliâ ratione habitâ beatos pronunciat, qui persecutionem patiuntur propter justitiam maximè & Dei nomen; quia spiritualia & coelestia considerat repositam illis coronam gloriae in futurum. Noster Solomon externa tantum & praesentis vitae incommoda perpendit quae vere hydra est.

For such an one may be in as great oppression when his time comes, as any other is, or hath been, amongst those that have lived before him▪ But rather of such an one as never yet hath been, nor never shall be Now judg whether this can admit any sober sense, unlesse in a vulgar phrase, according to the intemperate expressions which in time of oppression are uttered by men wherein as Maldonat observes, there is allwaies something hyperbolicall, and such as must not be examinedaccording to the subtilty of the Schooles. For consider, is there but one such that never yet was, nor evershall be; or are there many such? If many such, how come they to differ, who have nothing wherein to differ? What a vaine imagination is it to talke of particulars that never had, or shall have existence, to ascribe unto them a better condition then is found