A89737:905
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.
Quest. How can God command them to believe, concerning whom he hath decreed that they shall not believe.
Quest. How can God command them to believe, conconcerning whom he hath decreed that they shall not believe.
Not Gods pleasure what shall be, but his pleasure what shall be our duty, together with our obligation, is the ground of the Command. There is a double necessity, either of coaction, or of infallibility. The Decree puts upon men a necessity of infallibility, not of coaction, or compulsion.
Necessity of infallibility doth not prejudice liberty. God is necessarily good, yet freely good: he is goodness it self, and perfection it self.
Man acts as freely, as if there were no Decree, yet as infallibly, as if there were no liberty. See this undeniably manifest in a disjunctive Demonstration. Thomas will either come into this room, or not come into this room; he cannot both come into this room, and not come into this room: he will do that of these two freely, which God hath decreed infallibly; The being of the Will (of whose essence liberty is) consists with the Decree of God, therefore also the acting of the Will. Liberty is the effect of the Decree; so far is the Decree from prejudicing liberty.