By this objection arising out of the former Doctrine, namely, 1that God hath mercy on whom he will, and hardeneth others: he doth evince that by showing mercy, is signified Gods giving the grace of obedience; by hardening, his denying the same grace of obedience; And withal that by denying this grace it comes to pass, that men cannot obey the will of God, seeing hereby is manifested, that Gods will is not, they should obey, but rather continue in their hardness of heart uncured, and consequently in their disobedience, whereupon it seems unreasonable that God should complain of mens disobedience, as oftentimes he doth, as Esa. 1. Hear, O Heavens, and hearken O Earth, I have nourished and brought up a people, and they have rebelled against me. Again, Esa. 65. All the day long have I stretched out my hands unto a people that walk in a way that is not good, even after their own imaginations, And Jer. 8. 7. Even the Stork in the air, knoweth her appointed times, and the Turtle, and the Crane, and the Swallow observeth the time of their coming, but my people knoweth not the judgements of the Lord, and ver. 6. I hearkened and heard, but none spake aright, no man repented of his wickedness, saying, what have I done? Every one turneth into their race, as the horse rusheth into the battle. And Hose. 7. 14. Though I have bound and strengthened their arm, yet they have rebelled against me. And Exod. 10. 2. ⟨p. 280⟩Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews, How long wilt thou refuse to humble thy self before me? Let my people go that they may serve me, ver. 4. But if thou refuse to let my people go, behold, to morrow I will bring Grasshoppers into thine house, &c. ver. 20. But the Lord hardened Pharaohs heart, and he did not let the children of Israel go. Now this I say seems most unreasonable in the judgement of flesh and blood. Namely, both to harden a mans heart, and yet to complain of, and find fault with the hardness of his heart, with his rebellion and disobedience, considering that no man can resist his will.
By this objection arising out of the former Doctrine, namely, 1that God hath mercy on whom hee will, and hardneth others: hee doth evince that by shewing mercy, is signifyed Gods giving the grace of obedience; by hardning, his denying the same grace of obedience; And withall that by denying this grace it comes to passe, that men cannot obey the will of God, seeing hereby is manifested, that Gods will is not, they should obey, but rather continue in their hardnesse of heart uncured, and consequently in their disobedience, whereupon it seems unreasonable that God should complain of mens disobedience, as oftentimes hee doth, as Esa. 1. Hear, O Heavens, and hearken O Earth, I have nourished and brought up a people, and they have rebelled against mee. Again, Esa. 65. All the day long have I stretched out my hands unto a people that walk in a way that is not good, even after their own imaginations, And Jer. 8. 7. Even the Stork in the aire, knoweth her appointed times, and the Turtle, and the Crane, and the Swallow observeth the time of their comming, but my people knoweth not the judgements of the Lord, and ver. 6. I hearkned and heard, but none spake aright, no man repented of his wickednesse, saying, what have I done? Every one turneth into their race, as the horse rusheth into the battle. And Hose. 7. 14. Though I have bound and strengthened their arm, yet they have rebelled against mee. And Exod. 10. 2. ⟨p. 280⟩Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews, How long wilt thou refuse to humble thy self before mee? Let my people goe that they may serve mee, ver. 4. But if thou refuse to let my people goe, behold, to morrow I will bring Grashoppers into thine house, &c. ver. 20. But the Lord hardned Pharaohs heart, and hee did not let the children of Israel goe. Now this I say seems most unreasonable in the judgement of flesh and blood. Namely, both to harden a mans heart, and yet to complain of, and finde fault with the hardnesse of his heart, with his rebellion and disobedience, considering that no man can resist his will.
- 1Exam.
