A64661:41
The judgement of the late Arch-Bishop of Armagh and Primate of Ireland 1. Of…
The judgement of the late Arch-Bishop of Armagh and Primate of Ireland 1. Of the extent of Christs death and satisfaction &c, 2. Of the Sabbath, and observation of the Lords day, 3. Of the ordination in other reformed churches : with a vindication of him from a pretended change of opinion in the first, some advertisements upon the latter, and in prevention of further injuries, a declaration of his judgement in several other subjects / by N. Bernard.
London: printed for John Crook, 1658
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
If here exception be taken, That I make the whole nature of man fit for mercy, when it is as unfit a subject for grace as may be.
If here exception bee taken, That I make the whole nature of man fit for mercy, when it is as unfit a subject for grace as may be.
I answer, That here two impediments do occur, which give a stop unto the peace, which is to be made betwixt God and man. The one respects God the party offended, whose justice hath been in such sort violated by his base Vassals, that it were unfit for his glorious Majesty to put up such an injury without a good satisfaction. The other respects man the party offending, whose blindness, stupidity, and hardness of heart is such, that he is neither sensible of his own wretchedness, nor Gods goodness, that when God offers to be reconciled unto him, there must be much entreaty to persuade him to be reconciled to God, (2 Cor. 5. 20.) In regard of the latter I acknowledge with the Apostle, That the natural man receives not the things of the spirit, for ⟨p. 30⟩they are foolishness to him; neither can he, because spiritually discerned, (1 Cor. 2. 14.) And this impediment is not taken away by Christs satisfaction (which is a work of his Priestly function) but by the enlightening of the mind, and softening the heart of the sinner, which are effects issuing from the execution of the Prophetical, and Kingly Office of our Redeemer. When therefore I say, That by Christs satisfaction to his Father he made the Nature of Man a fit subject for mercy, I mean thereby, that the former impediment arising on Gods part is taken away, that if it were not for the other (for the having whereof we can blame none but our selves, and in the not removing, whereof, we cannot say God hath done us any wrong) there were no let, but all men might be saved: And if it pleased God to extend his mercy unto all, as he keeps his freedom therein, in having compassion on whom he will have mercy, and leaving