A64002:2243
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.
Had you lived in those times, you could easily have put an end to all this great altercation; provided that they would have received that which you take here for a principle, that fore-knowledge is not properly in God. For if this be so, then all disputation concerning the reconciling of Gods fore-knowledge with liberty and contingency is frivolous, and to no purpose.
What anxious disputes have been amongst the Schoolmen for many hundred years continuance touching the manner or the ground of Gods foreknowing future contingents? Bonaventure maintained that God did foreknow future contingents by the Idea's of them in his mind. Aquinas made the ground of Gods foreknowing them to be their presence or existence in eternity. Scotus his opinion was, that God foreknows them by seeing the determination of his own will touching their coming to pass. Other grounds of Gods foreknowledge of future contingents are assigned by others, which you may find mentioned almost in every Schoolman. Bellarm. l. 4. de grat: & libero Arbitrio, and before him Occam and Ariminensis were of an opinion, that the way, or manner of Gods foreknowing future contingents, is a point that is incomprehensible, & unexpressible in this life. Were you called to be an Umpire between these great Schoolmen in this thorny, and knotty Question, you, instead of unloosing or untying this Gordian knot, would like another Alexander have cut it in pieces, and have told them that they disputed like a company of Buzzards concerning the ground or manner of that which may in propriety of speech be denied of God. Your opinion you see doth not so fully accord with ancient and Modern Divinity, as you pretend, & how dissonant it is from the truth will soon be manifested, by bringing it unto the rule of Theological truth, the Scriptures, in which the infallible prediction of things to come, do clearly and abundantly witness, that foreknowledge is properly in God: for prediction presupposeth prescience, it being utterly impossible to foretell infallibly what one doth not foreknow certainly. Hereupon it was that Tertullian said Deum, quot fecit Prophet as, tot habere testes praescientiae suae lib. 2. contra Marcion. c. 5. That God hath so many witnesses of his prescience, as he hath made Prophets. This infallible prediction of things to come is so proper & peculiar unto God, as that thereby he distinguisheth himself from all false Gods. Isaiah 41. 21, 22, 23. Produce your cause, saith the Lord (unto the Idols of the Gentiles) bring forth your strong reasons saith the King of Jacob; let them bring forth & show us what shall happen. Let them show the former things what they he, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them or declare us things for to ome: