A64002:724
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.
3. And I find it strange, that men should grow to such a degree of immodesty, as to affect singularity, and to show a dexterity, in such sort to advance Gods mercy, as to obscure and deface his grace, as this Author doth; for all along you shall not find him to magnify Gods free grace: whereas Mercy showed to one rather then to another, in respect of his being better disposed for the receiving of it more then another, is rather of the nature of justice, then of Mercy distinct from justice.
3. And I find it strange, that men should grow to such a degree of immodesty, as to affect singularity, and to shew a dexterity, in such sort to advance Gods mercy, as to obscure and deface his grace, as this Author doth; for all along you shall not find him to magnify Gods free grace: whereas Mercy shewed to one rather then to another, in respect of his being better disposed for the receiving of it more then another, is rather of the nature of justice, then of Mercy distinct from justice.
4. And to this purpose he takes no pains to set down, wherein this mercy consists, which he so much amplifies, but carrieth it throughout in hugger mugger, and in the clouds of generality, that it might appear the more likely, to be indifferently extended to all; and albeit sometimes he expresseth it, to be the love of a Father towards his children, yet it is too too probable, that he extends this to all and every one, as the children of God by creation; And therefore particulates not wherein it consists, as namely whether in mercy temporal or spiritual; and as touching mercy spiritual, whether this be not the pardoning of mens sins, together with the illumination of the mind, sanctification of the will, change of the heart, and giving of faith, repentance, obedience, and final perseverance therein. For had he particulated those, he had apparently marred his own market, and been driven to loose that in retail, which he hoped to gain in gross; For these mercies are not extended to all. But their meaning is, God offers these to all, and that any fail of them, it is because man disposeth not himself for the receiving of them. This is the issue of his advancing Gods mercy, utterly to disparage the freedom of Gods grace. Now of the Divine mercy in this sense, to wit, as freely extended to all, he hath not one word throughout, as I can remember, in so vast premises; all that he speaks of the extension of Gods mercy to variety of objects, is dispatched in three lines of these his three large leaves; as where he saith, his mercy is more largely extended then his justice, and that look how much three or four come short of a thousand, so much doth his justice come short of his mercy in the exercise of it; And upon this poor interpretation, he grounds the only substantial part of his reply, to our answer to this his argument. For to say that Gods mercy is rich, abundant, long suffering, beyond apprehension, is nothing to the purpose. For all this hinders not, but that the application of it may be, and is, made only to certain vessels, who are called vessels of mercy, in distinction from vessels of wrath,