A89737:364
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.
The sum of the Answer to this Objection is: God being an absolute Lord, having freely enabled man with power, whereby he might have lived for ever, and not have Sinned. His Decree being only the Antecedent, not the cause. Man an Antecedent, and the cause of Sin; Sin the only deserving cause of punishment; and lastly, God not delighting in the death, no not of Sinful man; most unjustly, and unthankfully do the non-elected complain of God, Because besides that power given them whereby they might ⟨p. 74⟩have been happy, He was not pleased over and above, to bestow upon them that absolute-special grace (which yet he was pleased to do unto his Elect) whence they could not make themselves miserable: and whereby he would make them happy.
The sum of the Answer to this Objection is: God being an absolute Lord, having freely enabled man with power, whereby he might have lived for ever, and not have Sinned. His Decree being only the Antecedent, not the cause. Man an Antecedent, and the cause of Sin; Sin the only deserving cause of punishment; and lastly, God not delighting in the death, no not of Sinful man; most unjustly, and unthankfully do the non-elected complaine of God, Because besides that power given them whereby they might ⟨p. 74⟩have been happy, He was not pleased over and above, to bestow upon them that absolute-special grace (which yet he was pleased to do unto his Elect) whence they could not make themselves miserable: and whereby he would make them happy.
The doctrine of the absoluteness,1 and necessity, or infallibility of the Decree, takes away the liberty of the second cause.
- 1Obj. 5.