A89737:670
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.
That which is the Fountain of all good, is the Rule of Righteousness: but Gods Will is the Fountain of all good: All Laws which have their beginning in time, as the Law of Nature, the Law of Nations, the Moral Law, all Civil Law, whether fundamental, or positive; that are conformable to the Moral Law (as all ought to be) flow from the Will of God, which is the Eternal Law: That which is just in it self, is the Rule of Justice to all other things, that are just. But the Will of God is just in it self, because the Will of God, is God himself willing. God is essentially just. Either Relative Justice is regulated by the Will of God, or the Will of God, as willing relative justice, is regulated by it: But the Will of God cannot be regulated by any Rule precedaneous unto it; because it would thence follow that he were not infinitely just.
That vvhich is the Fountain of all good, is the Rule of Righteousness: but Gods Will is the Fountain of all good: All Laws vvhich have their beginning in time, as the Lavv of Nature, the Lavv of Nations, the Moral Lavv, all Civil Lavv, vvhether fundamental, or positive; that are conformable to the Moral Lavv (as all ought to be) flovv from the Will of God, vvhich is the Eternal Lavv: That vvhich is just in it self, is the Rule of Justice to all other things, that are just. But the Will of God is just in it self, because the Will of God, is God himself vvilling. God is essentially just. Either Relative Justice is regulated by the Will of God, or the Will of God, as vvilling relative justice, is regulated by it: But the Will of God cannot be regulated by any Rule precedaneous unto it; because it vvould thence follovv that he vvere not infinitely just.
Hence the Demerit of sin being according to the Order of Justice, (for the demerit of sin intends nothing else, but ⟨p. 149⟩that which is due thereto, according to the constituted rule of moral righteousness between God and man) and the order of justice proceeding from the free good pleasure of God: it followeth, that the demerit of sin receiveth its nature, measure, and limits from the Will of God: according as he hath revealed himself in the Moral Law; so that the damned in Hell suffer not more nor less then they deserved; yea, had God pleased to have inflicted a greater punishment for sin, it had been just: as also if he had pleased to have inflicted a lesser punishment for sin, it had been just. The sinners demerit is such, whereupon it is free for God to deny mercy, and just for him to punish sin: but a sinner (which hath been intimated formerly) hath not merited, that God should show no mercy; for then it would be unjust with God, to pardon sin. 'Tis an unmoved, and received Proposition; God doth not will things, because they are just; but things are therefore just, because God so willeth them.