A Body of Practical Divinity

Object. 2. But may some say, if God hath a hand in ordering all things that fall out, why then he hath a hand in the Sins of Men?

I answer, No, by no means, he hath no hand in any Man's sin. God cannot go contrary to his own Nature, he cannot do any unholy Action, no more then the Sun can be said to be darkened. Here you must take heed of two things, as you must take heed of making God ignorant of Mens sins, so you must take heed of making God to have a hand in Mens sins: Is it a thing likely that God is the Author of Sin, that is an Avenger of it? Is it a likely thing that God should make a Law against Sin, and then have a hand in breaking his own Law, is that likely? And therefore to answer the Objection, God in his Providence doth permit Mens ⟨p. 71⟩sins, Acts 14.16. He suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. God permitted their sin, and he would never permit their sin, if he could not bring good out of it; as the Apothecary can make a Treacle of Poison. Had not Sin been at all permitted, God's Justice in punishing Sin, and his Mercy in pardoning Sin had never been so well known. The Lord is pleased to permit it, but he had no hand in it.

I answer, No, by no means, he hath no hand in any Man's sin. God cannot go contrary to his own Nature, he cannot do any unholy Action, no more then the Sun can be said to be darkned. Here you must take heed of two things, as you must take heed of making God ignorant of Mens sins, so you must take heed of making God to have a hand in Mens sins: Is it a thing likely that God is the Author of Sin, that is an Avenger of it? Is it a likely thing that God should make a Law against Sin, and then have a hand in breaking his own Law, is that likely? And therefore to answer the Objection, God in his Providence doth permit Mens ⟨p. 71⟩sins, Acts 14.16