A64002:1736
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.
For certainly the habit of virtue is not an indifferent power 1to do an act virtuous or vicious, but it is a moral propension and inclination only to acts virtuous. So is the habit of justice a moral propension and inclination to perform only that which is just. The like may be said of every moral virtue in special. How much more doth supernatural grace consist not in a power to believe, if a man will, to love God if he will, to hope and wait for the joys of heaven if he will, and if he will to refuse to perform any of these acts, but rather an holy and heavenly habit, or weight wrought in the soul of man, moving and swaying it only to gracious acts pleasing & acceptable in the sight of God, which indeed constitutes a spiritual liberty from sin, and makes a man become the holy servant of God, willing to receive direction from him, and delighting to be ordered by him in all our ways. On the other side with out grace a man is left in that natural corruption wherein he was conceived & borne, which makes him a slave to sin and a vassal to Satan led captive by him to do his will. Yet not withstanding there remains in every one his natural liberty still, which consists only in 2the choice of means conducing to man's end; whereas moral virtue and grace do order the will a right towards aright end; moral virtues according to the knowledge natural which he hath of his right end natural, grace according to the knowledge supernatural, which a man hath of his right end supernatural, which is to be rightly disposed and ordered towards God his maker; So that this natural liberty still continueth the same; As for example, he that it virtuous so far forth as he is virtuous, continueth still free; not as freedom signifies an indifferency to perform an act virtuous vicious, but being thereby disposed only to virtuous actions, he is free whether to exercise this or that virtuous act, according to occasions offered; or in the same kind of a virtuous disposition; whether he will do this or that in particular, as to give in such a proportion, or in such a season, or to such or such persons, in all which being of a virtuous disposition he is ready to receive directions from the dictates of recta ratio, right reason, otherwise called wisdom.
For certainely the habit of vertue is not an indifferent power 1