A64002:742
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.
And in my judgement our Saviour doth not represent his tender affection to the Jews, by the general affection of an Hen to hers, but to that particular carriage of hers in desiring to gather her chickens under her wings. *Neither do I think that he who invited those mighty men, but unto what? unto a Hen, was to express his singularity of affection towards them: be it that God is more merciful to man then to all other creatures; whence I pray proceeds this? is it not merely from the good pleasure of his own will? and if so, why may he not, out of the mere pleasure of his own will restrain his saving mercy to some few, who are accordingly called in Scripture expressly vessels of mercy; distinguished from all the rest who are called vessels of wrath.
And in my judgement our Saviour doth not represent his tender affection to the Jewes, by the generall affection of an Hen to hers, but to that particular carriage of hers in desiring to gather her chickens under her wings. *Neither doe I think that he who invited those mighty men, but unto what? unto a Hen, was to expresse his singularity of affection towards them: be it that God is more mercifull to man then to all other creatures; whence I pray proceeds this? is it not meerly from the good pleasure of his own will? and if so, why may he not, out of the meere pleasure of his own will restraine his saving mercy to some few, who are accordingly called in Scripture expressely vessells of mercy; distinguished from all the rest who are called vessells of wrath.
- *The Doctor here alludes unto a known song.
Whereas he saith, that with such a mercy cannot stand such a Decree, as absolute reprobation. We answer; neither do we say any such decree doth stand with such a mercy; it is rather absolute election stands with such a mercy, then any reprobation. The Scripture plainly giving us to understand, that they on whom reprobation passeth, are not vessels of mercy, but vessels of wrath. But like as God though he spared not Angels when they fell, nor left any way open unto them for repentance, whereby to return to his grace and favour, yet he spared man, and left a way open unto him, to return to his grace and favour by faith in Christ. In like sort, though God were pleased absolutely to elect some amongst men, yet this nothing precludes him from dealing as absolutely in reprobating others, that is, in purposing to deny them the spirit of faith and repentance, whereby they might rise after they were fallen; which grace most freely and absolutely he decreed to bestow, and as freely and absolutely he doth bestow on others, according to that of the Apostle,