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…

And to provoke ¹them the rather unto repentance, he represents himself unto them as easy to be entreated, as slow to wrath, and one that by his patience and long suffering leads them to repentance. And to this end he gives charge to his Ministers, namely, by representing the gracious nature of God to admonish them of their sins, to call them to repentance, to obedience. And to this purpose to represent his promises which he hath annexed unto godliness, both the promises of this life, and the promises of a better life that is to come. Yea and his threats also both of judgments in the world to come, to the casting both of body and soul into hell fire; and thereupon to exhort us to fear him above all others. And judgments of this world, as, famine, pestilence, and the sword of the enemy, To deliver them over into the hands of beastly people, skilful to destroy; To send Serpents, and Cockatrices among them that will not be charmed, and that shall sting them; and that without all mercy. Surely these are not the courses of Satan or wicked counsellors. Therefore they do not as God doth, neither doth God do that which they do and more also. 2. If it be said that albeit the Lord doth not as the Devil doth, and wicked men do in persuading them to sin; yet he doth that which is more then this. I answer, that nevertheless he cannot be accounted the Author of sin, in case the doing of this alone doth constitute an Agent the Author of sin. Now as formerly I have showed this was the opinion of Dominicus Soto, and of the Divines of Salamanca: yea and Vasquez the Jesuit professeth, that he was ever of that opinion. Again if to do more then this, be to become the Author of sin; both this Author and all that are of his Spirit do maintain as well we, that God doth that which is far more then this. For I presume he will not deny, but that God is he, and he alone, who doth support our natures in the committing of sin; & who maintains our senses in their vigour and quickness, without which we could take no pleasure in sin, and that concurs to every act of sin, in the way of cause efficient, not morally, which alone makes one to become the Author of sin, by the judgment of Divines formerly mentioned; but physically and naturally, which no creature can do, namely become a natural coefficient cause to the act of another man's will.

And to provoak ¹them the rather unto repentance, he represents himselfe unto them as easy to be intreated, as slow to wrath, and one that by his patience and long suffering leades them to repentance. And to this end he gives charge to his Ministers, namely, by representing the gracious nature of God to admonish them of their sinnes, to call them to repentance, to obedience. And to this purpose to represent his promises which he hath annexed unto godlinesse, both the promises of this life, and the promises of a better life that is to come. Yea and his threats also both of judgments in the world to come, to the casting both of body and soule into hell fire; and thereupon to exhort us to feare him above all others. And judgments of this world, as, famine, pestilence, and the sword of the enemie, To deliver them over into the hands of beastly people, skilfull to destroy; To send Serpents, and Cockatrices among them that will not be charmed, and that shall sting them; and that without all mercy. Surely these are not the courses of Satan or wicked counsellours. Therefore they doe not as God doth, neither doth God doe that which they doe and more also. 2. If it be said that albeit the Lord doth not as the Devill doth, and wicked men doe in perswading them to sinne; yet he doth that which is more then this. I answer, that neverthelesse he cannot be accounted the Authour of sinne, in case the doing of this alone doth constitute an Agent the Authour of sinne. Now as formerly I have shewed this was the opinion of Dominicus Soto, and of the Divines of Salamancha: yea and Vasquez the Jesuite professeth, that he was ever of that opinion. Againe if to doe more then this, be to become the Authour of sin; both this Authour and all that are of his Spirit doe maintain as well we, that God doth that which is farre more then this. For I presume he will not deny, but that God is he, and he alone, who doth support our natures in the committing of sin; & who maintaines our senses in their vigour and quicknesse, without which we could take noe pleasure in sin, and that concurres to every act of sin, in the way of cause efficient, not morally, which alone makes one to become the Authour of sin, by the judgment of Divines formerly mentioned; but physically and naturally, which no creature can doe, namely become a naturall coefficient cause to the act of another man's will.