A89737:343
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.
Answ. The bidding in the text is not a bidding properly, i. e. a moral Command, obliging Shimei thereunto: for God had expressly forbidden the thing that he did; and the contrary thereunto was his duty: but it is a bidding improperly, i. e. a natural Command, a part of the Decree, a Command (as some call it) of Providence, and intends no more, then that God, by denying the assistance of his grace, and leaving Shimei to his own heart and temptations, whereupon sin infallibly and inexcusably followed, did so order the cursing of Shimei, as that he used his tongue as scourge to chasten David justly, in the self-same action, wherein he himself abused his tongue to revile David sinfully.
Answ. The bidding in the text is not a bidding properly, i. e. a moral Command, obliging Shimei thereunto: for God had expresly forbidden the thing that he did; and the contrary thereunto was his duty: but it is a bidding improperly, i. e. a natural Command, a part of the Decree, a Command (as some call it) of Providence, and intends no more, then that God, by denying the assistance of his grace, and leaving Shimei to his own heart and temptations, whereupon sin infallibly and inexcuseably followed, did so order the cursing of Shimei, as that he used his tongue as scourge to chasten David justly, in the self-same action, wherein he himself abused his tongue to revile David sinfully.
These Sophisms thus removed, it may be also useful upon this occasion to confirm our hearts with some Arguments in the contrary truth, namely, that God is not the Author of sin.