A89737:667
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.
2. Whatsoever is due from God to man, is from the mere Will, and good pleasure of God. Moral Justice floweth from the good pleasure of God, the Manifestation of the Glory of God in a way of justice is the end, the permission of sin is the means: that this should be the means, and that should be the end, is wholly of the Will of God. The Creation of man is an effect of Gods good pleasure. That Prohibition of Adam to eat of the forbidden fruit, upon the transgression of which followed the death of mankind, was an Interdict of Gods free-vvill. The Moral Law it self is an effect of Gods good pleasure: What reasonable man but ⟨p. 148⟩will yield that the being of the Moral Law hath no necessary connection wth the Being of God. That this Moral Law should be a constant rule of manners, and that all mans actions should fall within the compass of this rule,1 is from the mere Will of God. That the actions of men, not conformable to this Law, should be sin: that death should be the punishment of sin, that this punishment should be suffered in our own persons, or in our Surety, as should seem good unto the Law-giver: all these are the constitutions of God, proceeding from him, not by way of necessity of nature, but freely, as effects and products of his Eternal good pleasure.
2. Whatsoever is due from God to man, is from the meer Will, and good pleasure of God. Moral Justice flovveth from the good pleasure of God, the Manifestation of the Glory of God in a way of justice is the end, the permission of sin is the means: that this should be the means, and that should be the end, is vvholly of the Will of God. The Creation of man is an effect of Gods good pleasure. That Prohibition of Adam to eat of the forbidden fruit, upon the transgression of vvhich followed the death of mankind, vvas an Interdict of Gods free-vvill. The Moral Lavv it self is an effect of Gods good pleasure: What reasonable man but ⟨p. 148⟩will yeild that the being of the Moral Lavv hath no necessary connexion vvth the Being of God. That this Moral Lavv should be a constant rule of manners, and that all mans actions should fall vvithin the compass of this rule,1