And if you did acknowledge a purpose in God not to communicate life and glory at all unto him, this Aquinas confesseth, and we jointly with Aquinas, confess that it is nothing less then to hate him. For if God will have a man to be, and will not have him to be saved, surely he will have him in the end to be damned. For in the end there will be found no middle state, equally remote from salvation and damnation. But you do in plain terms acknowledge a purpose in God to deal in justice with Esau, and to give him life or death according to his works. I presume you will not avouch this of all them that you account the world of mankind. For I doubt not but you will except Infants. As for men of ripe years, is it not as true of the elect, as of those you call the men of the world, that they shall be dealt withal according ⟨p. 180⟩to their works? I do not say according to their deserts, but according to their works, keeping my self to your own phrase. Hath not the Apostle professed, 2 Cor. 5. 10. That we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, that every man may receive the things which are done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or evil? But these works I confess are different, for either they consist in obedience or disobedience; either to the Covenant of the Law, or to the Covenant of Grace; either to the Law of works, or to a Law of Faith. Now as for those whom you call the world of mankind, and concerning whom you profess, God hath a purpose to judge them according to their works. I demand whether your meaning is, God will judge them according to their works, in reference to the Covenant of the Law, or in reference to the Covenant of Grace. If in reference to the Covenant of the Law, then the meaning must be this, God hath a purpose to save them, in case they perform exact obedience to his Law: But in case they continue not in every thing that is written in the book of the Law to do it, Gods purpose is to condemn them to everlasting death. Now I appeal to every sober Christians judgement, whether if God hath no purpose to save them, but upon condition of such obedience, and withal hath a purpose to damn them upon condition of such disobedience, whether, all things considered, it may not be more truly avouched, that God hath a purpose to damn them, but no purpose at all to save them.
And if you did acknowledge a purpose in God not to communicate life and glory at all unto him, this Aquinas confesseth, and wee joyntly with Aquinas, confesse that it is nothing lesse then to hate him. For if God will have a man to bee, and will not have him to bee saved, surely hee will have him in the end to bee damned. For in the end there will bee found no middle state, equally remote from salvation and damnation. But you doe in plain termes acknowledge a purpose in God to deale in justice with Esau, and to give him life or death according to his works. I presume you will not avouch this of all them that you account the world of mankinde. For I doubt not but you will except Infants. As for men of ripe years, is it not as true of the elect, as of those you call the men of the world, that they shall bee dealt withall according ⟨p. 180⟩to their workes? I doe not say according to their deserts, but according to their works, keeping my self to your own phrase. Hath not the Apostle professed, 2 Cor. 5. 10. That wee must all appeare before the judgement seate of Christ, that every man may receive the things which are done in his body, according to that hee hath done, whether it be good or evill? But these works I confesse are different, for either they consist in obedience or disobedience; either to the Covenant of the Law, or to the Covenant of Grace; either to the Law of works, or to a Law of Faith. Now as for those whom you call the world of mankinde, and concerning whom you professe, God hath a purpose to judge them according to their works. I demand whether your meaning is, God wil judge them according to their works, in reference to the Covenant of the Law, or in reference to the Covenant of Grace. If in reference to the Covenant of the Law, then the meaning must bee this, God hath a purpose to save them, in case they perform exact obedience to his Law: But in case they continue not in every thing that is writen in the book of the Law to doe it, Gods purpose is to condemn them to everlasting death. Now I appeale to every sober Christians judgement, whether if God hath no purpose to save them, but upon condition of such obedience, and withall hath a purpose to damne them upon condition of such disobedience, whether, all things considered, it may not bee more truely avouched, that God hath a purpose to damne them, but no purpose at all to save them.
