A64002:842
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 if none of our Divines do maintain, that God ordains any man of ripe years to obtain salvation, otherwise then upon their faith and repentance, and final perseverance: how much less do they maintain, that God ordains any man unto damnation, otherwise then for his sin and final perseverance therein without repentance? Whereas these enemies of the grace of God, as Saint Austin sometimes called the Pelagians, to make their cause more plausible to the affections or carnal men carry the matter so, as if we maintained that God ordained them to be damned absolutely, and for the mere pleasure of God, concealing the only cause for which God ordained, that they should be damned, namely, for the wilful transgression of Gods holy Commandments. Only the giving and denying of the grace of regeneration, the giving of faith and repentance, for the curing of that natural infidelity and impenitency that is found in all; and the leaving it uncured by denying faith and repentance: this indeed we maintain to be absolute, according to that of Saint Paul, he hath mercy on whom he will, and whom he will he hardeneth. Rom. 9. 18. Now, dare any of them deny faith and repentance to be the gift of God? They do not, they dare not; only of late they have come thus far, as to deny that Christ merited faith and regeneration for any. Secondly, inquire whether God gives faith and repentance to some, and denies it to others of his mere will and pleasure, or because he finds some good works in the one, which he finds not in the other. Here is the critical point, we defend no other absoluteness of election and reprobation, but such as depends wholly on this, namely, that God finding men equal in corruption, hath compassion on some, giving them faith and repentance, which he denies unto others: ⟨p. 163⟩All other absoluteness of Election and Reprobation, besides that which we undertake by clear demonstration to deduce herehence, we utterly renounce. Neither can our adversaries be so grossly ignorant, as not to perceive that this is the critical point of these controversies, the resolution of the truths wherein, will set an end to all contention about Election and Reprobation. Why then do they not deal plainly, and try their strength in this, whereby they should carry themselves fairly and ingenuously, and deal above board.
And if none of our Divines doe maintain, that God ordains any man of ripe years to obtain salvation, otherwise then upon their faith and repentance, and finall perseverance: how much lesse doe they maintain, that God ordains any man unto damnation, otherwise then for his sinne and finall perseverance therein without repentance? Whereas these enemies of the grace of God, as Saint Austin sometimes called the Pelagians, to make their cause more plausible to the affections or carnall men carry the matter so, as if we maintained that God ordained them to be damned absolutely, and for the meer pleasure of God, concealing the only cause for which God ordained, that they should be damned, namely, for the wilfull transgression of Gods holy Commandements. Only the giving and denying of the grace of regeneration, the giving of faith and repentance, for the curing of that naturall infidelity and impenitency that is found in all; and the leaving it uncured by denying faith and repentance: this indeed we maintain to be absolute, according to that of Saint Paul, he hath mercy on whom he will, and whom he will he hardneth.