A89737:305
The orthodox evangelist. Or A treatise wherein many great evangelical truths (not a few…
The orthodox evangelist. Or A treatise wherein many great evangelical truths (not a few whereof are much opposed and eclipsed in this perilous hour of the passion of the Gospel) are briefly discussed, cleared, and confirmed: as a further help, for the begetting, and establishing of the faith which is in Jesus. As also the state of the blessed, where; of the condition of their souls from the instant of their dissolution: and of their persons after their resurrection. By John Norton, teacher of the church at Ipswich in New England.The orthodox evangelist. Or A treatise wherein many great evangelical truths (not a few whereof are much opposed and eclipsed in this perillous hour of the passion of the Gospel) are briefly discussed, cleared, and confirmed: as a further help, for the begeting, and establishing of the faith which is in Jesus. As also the state of the blessed, where; of the condition of their souls from the instant of their dissolution: and of their persons after their resurrection. By John Norton, teacher of the church at Ipswich in New England.
London: printed by John Macock for Henry Cripps, 1654
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.
This Proposition, asserting the creature in its condition of possibility, to be the Object of the Decree; agreeth every way with the Doctrine of the Nature of God, and inferreth no incongruities: whereas the asserting of any other object disagreeth with the Nature of God, and inferreth intolerable inconsequences.
From these grounds it is not hard to conceive, that not man considered as actually being; whether in his pure, or corrupt estate; but as yet to be, and in the Divine Essence: namely, as capable in respect of the Sufficiency of God, to be what he pleased, is the Object of the Decree: scil. as concerning man.
This great Truth would be the more readily and quietly embraced, did we duly consider.
1. That this one single Act of the Decree is to be conceived by us after the order of the end, and the means conducing to that end. 2. The End of God in the Decree, is himself, Prov. 16.4. God made all things for himself: i. e. for the manifestation of his glory in a way of justice upon the Reprobate, in a way of justice tempered with mercy upon the Elect.