3. A Governor of Ten rich and populous Cities, knows of a train of fire, which by degrees shall at length consume, in one flame, men, women, sucking children, gold, silver, houses, gardens, he can quench the train, if he please, yet he suffers a strong wind to blow upon it, withdraws not water from it,1 which is a sort of fomenting thereof, until all be consumed. What can here be said to him who gives not account of any of his matters? this is the free dispensation of the only wise God to standing and to falling Angels and Men, and who can judge God or find him out in this? It may seem needless curiosity to determine, which of the two Providences, and which of the two Wills in the holy Lord must be first or choicest; Whether that by which Adam should have stood happy in perfect obedience without fall or sin given to the Covenant of works, or that Providence and Will by which the Lord designed, to bring in the wonder of mercy and grace, Emanuel, God manifest in the flesh, the delight of Men and Angels? it seems to say that the Lord's will is more set upon Adam's final duty, which never had being, and which the Lord immutably from Eternity, decreed should never be, then his holy Will is fixed upon that wonder of the World, of Heaven and Earth; the riches of the glory of his grace and other attributed in that precious ⟨p. 40⟩and incomparable mystery, God manifested in the flesh. Its true, God wills us rather to obey, and not to wound our selves by sin, 2then put him to pardon our disobedience, or to seek a Mediator or remedy for sin. But the Lord by his commanding will, in his Law chargeth us under the pain of condemnation to obey; but the Lord by no commanding will in his Law chargeth himself to provide and seek a Satisfier and Mediator: he provides a Redeemer by his will of purpose and holy decree, nor willed he ever fallen Adam to solicit his author commanding or decreeing will to provide a Physician for sick sinners.
3. A Governour of Ten rich and populous Cities, knows of a train of fire, which by degrees shall at length consume, in one flame, men, women, sucking children, gold, silver, houses, gardens, he can quench the train, if he please, yet he suffers a strong wind to blow upon it, withdraws not water from it,1 which is a sort of fomenting thereof, until all be consumed. What can here be said to him who gives not account of any of his matters? this is the free dispensation of the only wise God to standing and to falling Angels and Men, and who can judge God or find him out in this? It may seem needless curiosity to determine, which of the two Providences, and which of the two Wills in the holy Lord must be first or choicest; Whether that by which Adam should have stood happy in perfect obedience without fall or sin given to the Covenant of works, or that Providence and Will by which the Lord designed, to bring in the wonder of mercy and grace, Emanuel, God manifest in the flesh, the delight of Men and Angels? it seems to say that the Lord's will is more set upon Adam's final dutie, which never had being, and which the Lord immutably from Eternity, decreed should never be, then his holy Will is fixed upon that wonder of the World, of Heaven and Earth; the riches of the glory of his grace and other attributed in that precious ⟨p. 40⟩and incomparable mystery, God manifested in the flesh. Its true, God wills us rather to obey, and not to wound our selves by sin, 2then put him to pardon our disobedience, or to seek a Mediator or remedy for sin. But the Lord by his commanding will, in his Law chargeth us under the pain of condemnation to obey; but the Lord by no commanding will in his Law chargeth himself to provide and seek a Satisfier and Mediator: he provides a Redeemer by his will of purpose and holy decree, nor willed he ever fallen Adam to solicite his author commanding or decreeing will to provide a Physician for sick sinners.
- 1Its vain to determine that the providence of never sinning is choicer, then the providence of the inbringing of Christ God-man to die for sinners.
- 2As Mr. Baxter.
