now_o think_v on_o be_v god_n active_a unchangeableness_n whereby_o all_o his_o decree_n be_v suitable_a to_o himself_o and_o all_o his_o act_n be_v unchangeable_o conform_v to_o his_o decree_n i_o know_v that_o in_o the_o right_a apprehension_n of_o this_o as_o in_o all_o other_o the_o divine_a perfection_n there_o be_v great_a need_n of_o wariness_n and_o caution_n lest_o one_o of_o they_o shall_v be_v conceive_v to_o be_v inconsistent_a with_o or_o encroach_v upon_o another_o and_o therefore_o i_o may_v be_v apt_a to_o mistake_v as_o other_o have_v do_v the_o unchangeableness_n of_o god_n as_o if_o it_o be_v inconsistent_a with_o his_o unchangeableness_n that_o upon_o different_a occasion_n he_o shall_v act_v different_o i_o have_v see_v of_o late_a and_o not_o without_o abhorrence_n and_o admiration_n publish_v in_o print_n by_o one_o that_o pretend_v to_o be_v a_o great_a divine_a in_o the_o roman_a communion_n that_o god_n be_v only_o a_o common_a cause_n work_v like_o the_o sun_n moon_n or_o star_n without_o consideration_n of_o any_o particular_a circumstance_n but_o that_o all_o specialty_n be_v act_v by_o christ_n who_o understanding_n be_v finite_a as_o man_n can_v comprehend_v all_o thing_n at_o once_o and_o therefore_o the_o specialty_n arise_v as_o thing_n fall_v in_o his_o thought_n it_o be_v another_o strange_a enough_o misapprehension_n of_o the_o unchangeableness_n of_o god_n as_o if_o it_o do_v import_v that_o he_o can_v not_o have_v consideration_n of_o the_o act_n of_o his_o free_a creature_n in_o any_o of_o his_o decree_n but_o behove_v with_o as_o little_a consideration_n of_o deserve_v to_o design_n the_o rejection_n and_o eternal_a misery_n of_o some_o as_o of_o the_o give_v of_o grace_n and_o eternal_a glory_n and_o blessedness_n unto_o other_o it_o be_v injurious_a to_o imagine_v that_o learned_a and_o even_o pious_a and_o for_o the_o main_a orthodox_n divine_v can_v have_v admit_v so_o harsh_a a_o character_n of_o the_o bless_a and_o infinite_o amiable_a god_n if_o their_o mistake_n of_o the_o precise_a import_n of_o god_n unchangeableness_n have_v not_o carry_v they_o unto_o that_o supralapsarian_a way_n other_o apprehend_v it_o must_v imply_v a_o changeableness_n in_o god_n if_o his_o divine_a perfection_n have_v any_o effect_n at_o one_o time_n that_o they_o have_v not_o at_o another_o and_o when_o they_o see_v scripture_n and_o providence_n full_a of_o the_o contrary_n for_o instance_n that_o the_o power_n of_o god_n be_v not_o always_o exert_v itself_o in_o creation_n or_o in_o the_o punish_n of_o some_o and_o pardon_v accept_v and_o glorify_v of_o other_o yet_o to_o maintain_v their_o misapprehension_n of_o god_n unchangeableness_n they_o strain_v their_o invention_n to_o find_v a_o reconciliation_n and_o say_v that_o there_o be_v not_o any_o other_o act_n of_o the_o divine_a will_n power_n or_o perception_n but_o his_o eternal_a decree_n from_o which_o alone_o all_o these_o effect_n follow_v so_o that_o the_o act_n of_o creation_n be_v only_o that_o decree_n as_o break_v forth_o in_o its_o effect_n yea_o to_o exclude_v changeableness_n in_o knowledge_n they_o must_v also_o allow_v that_o in_o the_o beginning_n god_n know_v not_o that_o he_o be_v create_v or_o that_o creature_n be_v bring_v forth_o and_o not_o till_o then_o which_o do_v import_v no_o alteration_n of_o the_o perfection_n of_o god_n knowledge_n because_o he_o do_v as_o clear_o know_v all_o thing_n that_o be_v to_o come_v to_o pass_v from_o eternity_n as_o when_o they_o do_v come_v to_o pass_v yea_o and_o know_v no_o more_o as_o to_o the_o matter_n but_o as_o to_o the_o be_v future_a present_a or_o preterite_n no_o invention_n can_v avoid_v that_o god_n know_v that_o the_o world_n be_v once_o to_o come_v and_o now_o be_v and_o that_o the_o flood_n be_v to_o be_v and_o be_v now_o past_a can_v they_o also_o give_v a_o account_n how_o the_o same_o decree_n can_v take_v effect_n by_o one_o act_n of_o the_o divine_a will_n and_o yet_o at_o so_o immense_a distance_n of_o time_n certain_o there_o be_v no_o act_n of_o god_n power_n different_a from_o his_o will_n in_o the_o decree_n and_o if_o there_o be_v a_o power_n different_a from_o the_o will_n it_o do_v not_o then_o begin_v to_o exert_v itself_o how_o then_o shall_v that_o act_n of_o the_o will_v be_v efficacious_a that_o from_o eternity_n have_v no_o effect_n till_o the_o beginning_n of_o time_n and_o how_o shall_v the_o will_n of_o the_o end_n of_o time_n be_v so_o long_o after_o the_o beginning_n which_o can_v not_o be_v by_o the_o mere_a negation_n of_o willing_a but_o behove_v to_o be_v by_o a_o positive_a act_n of_o the_o divine_a will_n that_o such_o act_n of_o the_o same_o will_n shall_v be_v long_o without_o effect_n than_o other_o so_o that_o one_o act_n of_o his_o will_n shall_v suspend_v the_o effect_n of_o another_o whereas_o the_o scripture_n do_v always_o distinguish_v god_n decree_n from_o his_o dispensation_n and_o work_v our_o saviour_n say_v express_o hitherto_o my_o father_n work_v and_o i_o work_v must_v we_o thence_o say_v hitherto_o my_o father_n decree_n and_o i_o decree_v and_o though_o it_o be_v say_v that_o all_o god_n purpose_n take_v effect_n it_o be_v also_o say_v that_o all_o thing_n come_v to_o pass_v according_a to_o god_n purpose_n which_o explain_v the_o manner_n of_o their_o take_a effect_n not_o by_o his_o purpose_n but_o by_o the_o performance_n of_o it_o in_o work_v according_a to_o it_o the_o genuine_a and_o proper_a subject_n of_o changeableness_n or_o unchangeableness_n as_o to_o act_v original_o be_v in_o the_o purpose_n or_o intention_n for_o no_o rational_a be_v can_v operate_v rational_o but_o by_o a_o intention_n to_o work_v whether_o the_o intention_n be_v before_o or_o with_o the_o operation_n and_o therefore_o be_v change_v by_o the_o change_n of_o the_o intention_n therefore_o god_n unchangeableness_n do_v precise_o consist_v in_o this_o that_o his_o eternal_a purpose_n or_o intention_n be_v full_o suitable_a to_o his_o divine_a nature_n can_v therefore_o never_o be_v change_v and_o by_o his_o omnipotence_n it_o can_v never_o fail_v of_o the_o intend_a effect_n so_o that_o his_o unchangeableness_n be_v not_o that_o he_o act_v ever_o the_o same_o thing_n but_o that_o he_o act_v ever_o suitable_o to_o his_o glorious_a nature_n and_o do_v unchangeable_o perform_v what_o he_o purpose_v no_o creature_n can_v know_v god_n eternal_a purpose_n decree_n or_o intention_n or_o what_o his_o will_n be_v without_o revelation_n but_o by_o know_v what_o be_v congruous_a and_o suitable_a to_o the_o divine_a nature_n our_o innate_a conception_n of_o the_o divine_a act_n be_v chief_o in_o our_o apprehension_n of_o what_o be_v suitable_a to_o the_o divine_a nature_n from_o whence_o we_o infer_v his_o unchangeableness_n justice_n benignity_n mercy_n faithfulness_n and_o truth_n which_o we_o do_v not_o perceive_v so_o soon_o or_o so_o clear_o as_o the_o other_o we_o may_v and_o do_v oft_o doubt_v concern_v several_a dispensation_n whether_o they_o flow_v from_o god_n justice_n benignity_n or_o mercy_n be_v yet_o very_o clear_a that_o they_o be_v congruous_a to_o his_o glorious_a and_o bless_a nature_n god_n unchangeableness_n do_v not_o import_n that_o he_o have_v always_o the_o same_o love_n of_o beneplacence_n and_o beneficence_n to_o his_o elect_n before_o they_o be_v convert_v as_o after_o and_o when_o they_o fall_v in_o presumptuous_a sin_n for_o which_o he_o withdraw_v his_o countenance_n their_o peace_n and_o joy_n and_o do_v correct_v they_o as_o when_o they_o consider_v their_o way_n and_o repent_v and_o he_o cherish_v and_o comfort_v they_o albeit_o his_o love_n of_o benevolence_n to_o they_o be_v ever_o the_o same_o because_o in_o all_o these_o he_o act_v suitable_o to_o himself_o i_o abhor_v their_o folly_n who_o think_v that_o sin_n be_v no_o more_o sin_n nor_o no_o more_o to_o be_v sorrow_v for_o in_o the_o regenerate_v or_o that_o god_n have_v relax_v his_o justice_n in_o make_v that_o which_o be_v sin_n against_o his_o moral_a law_n to_o become_v no_o more_o sin_n which_o will_v indeed_o import_v a_o mutability_n in_o he_o it_o be_v also_o a_o groundless_a and_o empty_a notion_n to_o infer_v from_o god_n unchangeableness_n that_o there_o can_v be_v no_o more_o nor_o no_o less_o motion_n in_o the_o world_n than_o at_o the_o creation_n or_o that_o there_o shall_v be_v no_o more_o or_o few_o save_v of_o mankind_n than_o fall_v of_o the_o angel_n i_o do_v also_o admire_v and_o abhor_v their_o error_n who_o hold_v that_o god_n love_n of_o benevolence_n to_o the_o same_o creature_n can_v change_v see_v it_o flow_v from_o his_o mere_a grace_n and_o from_o no_o good_a thing_n in_o the_o object_n whence_o then_o shall_v the_o occasion_n of_o the_o change_n arise_v this_o imagination_n not_o only_o incroach_v upon_o the_o unchangeableness_n of_o god_n but_o
the_o manifestation_n of_o his_o glory_n in_o his_o aversion_n from_o sin_n for_o as_o i_o live_v say_v the_o lord_n i_o delight_v not_o in_o the_o death_n of_o a_o sinner_n he_o have_v no_o pleasure_n in_o the_o misery_n of_o his_o creature_n it_o be_v another_o mistake_n of_o gild_n and_o punishment_n that_o it_o be_v a_o debt_n whereby_o the_o sinner_n be_v oblige_v to_o undergo_v the_o punishment_n it_o may_v be_v call_v a_o debt_n as_o it_o be_v call_v a_o prison_n or_o a_o bondage_n neither_o be_v the_o satisfaction_n for_o sin_n proper_o a_o payment_n for_o if_o it_o be_v a_o debt_n a_o criminal_a shall_v be_v oblige_v in_o justice_n to_o offer_v himself_o to_o pay_v that_o debt_n which_o yet_o not_o only_o he_o ought_v not_o but_o he_o may_v not_o do_v neither_o do_v a_o judge_n proceed_v to_o punishment_n as_o receive_v a_o debt_n from_o the_o criminal_a but_o by_o his_o own_o authority_n if_o christ_n satisfaction_n for_o sin_n be_v a_o payment_n it_o will_v follow_v that_o no_o man_n shall_v mourn_v for_o sin_n because_o christ_n have_v satisfy_v there_o remain_v no_o more_o debt_n or_o gild_n of_o sin_n which_o have_v drive_v many_o into_o that_o pernicious_a error_n whence_o they_o be_v call_v antinomian_o and_o it_o will_v high_o derogate_v from_o the_o goodness_n of_o god_n if_o he_o do_v only_o take_v that_o payment_n from_o the_o cautioner_n that_o be_v due_a by_o the_o principal_a debtor_n but_o if_o the_o satisfaction_n be_v by_o manifest_v god_n abhorrence_n of_o sin_n it_o give_v great_a light_n to_o christ_n satisfaction_n intercede_v for_o sinner_n and_o offer_v that_o the_o father_n shall_v manifest_v as_o much_o of_o his_o abhorrence_n of_o sin_n upon_o he_o as_o if_o all_o mankind_n have_v be_v make_v eternal_o miserable_a that_o as_o the_o second_o adam_n he_o may_v make_v they_o all_o capable_a of_o salvation_n and_o the_o elect_v secure_v in_o it_o the_o judicial_a justice_n of_o god_n be_v that_o which_o he_o exercise_v as_o judge_n of_o all_o the_o world_n which_o stand_v not_o only_o in_o reward_n and_o punishment_n but_o also_o in_o give_v every_o rational_a creature_n its_o right_n or_o its_o own_o whether_o it_o be_v by_o retain_v the_o right_n they_o have_v without_o molestation_n or_o by_o attain_v these_o which_o they_o possess_v not_o god_n will_v never_o suffer_v any_o rational_a creature_n to_o want_v its_o right_n to_o give_v it_o to_o any_o other_o creature_n if_o it_o be_v not_o for_o sin_n judicial_a justice_n call_v the_o party_n that_o he_o may_v be_v hear_v if_o he_o have_v any_o thing_n can_v be_v say_v and_o that_o the_o fact_n must_v be_v prove_v be_v imply_v in_o the_o nature_n of_o it_o and_o moral_o necessary_a which_o the_o great_a judge_n of_o the_o world_n observe_v by_o himself_o or_o by_o his_o deputy_n by_o himself_o he_o call_v adam_n and_o eve_n and_o ask_v first_o adam_n have_v thou_o eat_v of_o the_o tree_n whereof_o i_o command_v thou_o thou_o shall_v not_o eat_v and_o he_o hear_v his_o weak_a plea_n and_o the_o man_n say_v the_o woman_n who_o thou_o give_v to_o be_v with_o i_o she_o give_v i_o of_o the_o tree_n and_o i_o do_v eat_v then_o he_o call_v the_o woman_n and_o say_v to_o she_o what_o be_v this_o that_o thou_o have_v do_v and_o he_o hear_v also_o her_o plea_n who_o say_v the_o serpent_n beguile_v i_o and_o i_o do_v eat_v in_o these_o accusation_n there_o be_v both_o the_o law_n adduce_v and_o apply_v to_o the_o fact_n violate_v it_o and_o the_o proof_n by_o their_o own_o judicial_a confession_n both_o their_o plea_n be_v reject_v and_o just_a judgement_n pronounce_v against_o they_o but_o immediate_o a_o mediator_n be_v intimate_v and_o thereby_o hope_v of_o mercy_n when_o cain_n kill_v his_o brother_n abel_n before_o god_n pronounce_v sentence_n against_o he_o he_o call_v he_o say_v what_o have_v thou_o do_v the_o voice_n of_o thy_o brother_n blood_n cry_v unto_o i_o from_o the_o ground_n there_o be_v the_o proof_n the_o blood_n be_v yet_o fresh_a upon_o the_o ground_n cain_n make_v no_o defence_n therefore_o god_n pronounce_v this_o sentence_n thou_o be_v accurse_v a_o fugitive_n and_o a_o vagabond_n shall_v thou_o be_v on_o the_o earth_n yet_o even_o to_o cain_n there_o be_v something_o of_o favour_n admix_v for_o god_n spare_v the_o temporal_a judgement_n by_o death_n by_o his_o sole_a prerogative_n and_o therefore_o he_o set_v a_o mark_n upon_o cain_n to_o prohibit_v all_o to_o execute_v the_o just_a sentence_n of_o death_n against_o he_o the_o justice_n whereof_o cain_n acknowledge_v say_v that_o every_o one_o that_o find_v i_o shall_v slay_v i_o which_o can_v not_o import_v a_o unwarrantable_a revenge_n as_o if_o all_o man_n will_v be_v wicked_a to_o multiply_v slaughter_n without_o warrant_n god_n judicial_a justice_n by_o his_o deputy_n be_v chief_o by_o man_n own_o conscience_n which_o both_o accuse_v they_o prove_v against_o they_o and_o condemn_v they_o for_o all_o their_o fault_n until_o it_o be_v seduce_v or_o sear_v and_o then_o often_o god_n delay_v his_o judgement_n till_o the_o soul_n be_v appear_v before_o he_o after_o death_n but_o sometime_o he_o execute_v his_o judgement_n by_o man_n without_o warrant_n sometime_o by_o other_o accident_n and_o frequent_o by_o judge_n derive_v authority_n from_o he_o who_o therefore_o ought_v to_o follow_v the_o rule_n and_o pattern_n he_o have_v give_v they_o condemn_v no_o man_n till_o they_o have_v call_v he_o to_o answer_v for_o himself_o and_o give_v he_o time_n and_o freedom_n to_o offer_v all_o his_o defence_n and_o adduce_v sufficient_a proof_n of_o the_o fact_n charge_v against_o he_o meditation_n xv._n upon_o the_o mercy_n of_o god_n my_o thought_n in_o my_o last_o meditation_n upon_o the_o punitive_a justice_n of_o god_n and_o the_o misery_n thence_o arise_v lead_v i_o to_o consider_v the_o mercy_n of_o god_n which_o presuppose_v misery_n as_o the_o object_n of_o it_o the_o mercy_n of_o god_n be_v a_o part_n and_o kind_n of_o his_o goodness_n but_o be_v a_o special_a kind_n of_o goodness_n presuppose_v misery_n therefore_o i_o can_v not_o distinct_o consider_v it_o till_o i_o consider_v the_o misery_n arise_v from_o god_n justice_n the_o goodness_n of_o god_n which_o presuppose_v not_o misery_n be_v more_o proper_o call_v his_o bounty_n or_o benignity_n in_o benevolence_n or_o beneficence_n if_o adam_n have_v not_o fall_v god_n advance_v he_o from_o a_o animal_n to_o a_o angelical_a estate_n have_v be_v a_o act_n of_o free_a beneficence_n and_o bounty_n but_o no_o act_n of_o mercy_n for_o then_o adam_n have_v never_o be_v miserable_a yet_o mercy_n do_v not_o always_o consider_v misery_n as_o pre-existent_a or_o as_o see_v present_a or_o past_a but_o as_o foresee_v which_o will_v come_v to_o pass_v if_o it_o be_v not_o prevent_v by_o mercy_n and_o this_o be_v proper_o call_v prevent_v mercy_n in_o contradiction_n to_o that_o which_o be_v call_v healing_n or_o cure_v mercy_n as_o physician_n use_v prevent_v medicine_n when_o they_o foresee_v the_o latent_fw-la cause_n of_o the_o disease_n that_o will_v come_v if_o these_o cause_n be_v not_o remove_v as_o well_o as_o heal_a medicine_n to_o remove_v the_o disease_n incumbent_a the_o prevent_a medicine_n be_v more_o useful_a though_o less_o sensible_a than_o the_o other_o so_o be_v god_n prevent_a mercy_n god_n foresee_v adam_n fall_n and_o the_o ensue_a misery_n to_o himself_o and_o his_o posterity_n and_o on_o the_o foresight_n and_o consideration_n thereof_o decree_v to_o send_v his_o son_n into_o the_o world_n to_o assume_v the_o nature_n of_o man_n and_o in_o it_o to_o suffer_v death_n and_o expiate_v his_o justice_n and_o to_o satisfy_v his_o abhorrency_n of_o sin_n this_o decree_n be_v prevent_v mercy_n not_o design_v to_o prevent_v the_o existence_n of_o sin_n but_o to_o prevent_v the_o incurableness_n of_o it_o when_o it_o shall_v exist_v and_o to_o prevent_v the_o evil_a of_o punishment_n which_o will_v befall_v the_o sinner_n and_o to_o prevent_v the_o height_n and_o eternal_a continuance_n of_o it_o whereby_o infant_n and_o idiot_n never_o commit_v sin_n and_o those_o who_o be_v save_v do_v never_o commit_v sin_n after_o the_o state_n of_o mortality_n god_n do_v also_o cure_v sin_n after_o its_o existence_n not_o only_o absolute_o in_o glory_n but_o in_o part_n in_o mortality_n remove_v the_o rage_n and_o reign_a power_n of_o it_o mercy_n be_v one_o of_o the_o natural_a innate_a principle_n in_o man_n common_a to_o all_o man_n who_o so_o far_o arrive_v to_o discretion_n as_o that_o they_o can_v discern_v the_o misery_n of_o a_o rational_a creature_n which_o work_v like_o a_o instinct_n upon_o the_o view_n of_o the_o object_n without_o reason_v and_o with_o such_o propension_n that_o though_o oftentimes_o they_o will_v they_o can_v forbear_v those_o who_o
burn_v with_o revenge_n or_o envy_n do_v relent_v when_o they_o see_v the_o misery_n of_o that_o creature_n to_o which_o they_o wish_v the_o worst_a of_o evil_n and_o their_o misery_n may_v become_v so_o great_a that_o there_o arise_v thence_o a_o compassion_n and_o suffering_n with_o the_o miserable_a creature_n with_o a_o desire_n to_o relieve_v it_o mercy_n therefore_o imply_v a_o displeasure_n or_o grief_n for_o a_o miserable_a creature_n and_o a_o desire_n to_o relieve_v it_o whether_o from_o misery_n incumbent_a or_o imminent_a so_o a_o merciful_a man_n shelter_n a_o creature_n from_o the_o avenger_n this_o natural_a inclination_n of_o mercy_n may_v be_v and_o often_o be_v much_o abate_v and_o eradicate_v by_o contrary_a evil_a inclination_n and_o custom_n as_o those_o that_o murder_n for_o gain_n and_o too_o many_o become_v not_o only_o void_a of_o compassion_n but_o cruel_a contrary_a to_o mercy_n delight_v to_o behold_v the_o misery_n of_o other_o but_o then_o they_o be_v reckon_v to_o put_v off_o humanity_n and_o that_o pain_n that_o be_v feel_v in_o the_o heart_n and_o bowel_n upon_o the_o sight_n of_o misery_n misery_n be_v not_o every_o evil_a of_o suffer_v and_o want_n but_o the_o prevalence_n of_o they_o to_o which_o alone_a mercy_n be_v applicable_a which_o be_v a_o innate_a inclination_n give_v to_o we_o of_o god_n can_v but_o be_v pleasant_a to_o god_n the_o giver_n and_o be_v a_o remainder_n of_o his_o image_n in_o the_o natural_a conscience_n he_o delight_v much_o in_o the_o mercifulness_n of_o his_o creature_n and_o it_o be_v a_o eminent_a sign_n of_o those_o that_o be_v in_o his_o favour_n which_o appear_v by_o that_o article_n of_o the_o lord_n prayer_n forgive_v we_o our_o sin_n as_o we_o forgive_v they_o that_o sin_n against_o we_o intimate_v that_o none_o can_v with_o hope_n ask_v mercy_n of_o god_n who_o be_v not_o merciful_a the_o mercy_n of_o creature_n may_v often_o be_v exercise_v in_o fellowfeeling_n or_o compassion_n when_o 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