The riches of Gods love unto the vessells of mercy, consistent with his absolute hatred or reprobation of the vessells of wrath, or, An answer unto a book entituled, Gods love unto mankind ... in two bookes, the first being a refutation of the said booke, as it was presented in manuscript by Mr Hord unto Sir Nath. Rich., the second being an examination of certain passages inserted into M. Hords discourse (formerly answered) by an author that conceales his name, but was supposed to be Mr Mason ... / by ... William Twisse ... ; whereunto are annexed two tractates of the same author in answer unto D.H. ... ; together with a vindication of D. Twisse from the exceptions of Mr John Goodwin in his Redemption redeemed, by Henry Jeanes ...

DISCOURSE. SUBSECT. III.

THe third reason why absolute Reprobation infringeth Gods justice is, because it will have him to punish men for the omission of an act, which is made impossible unto them by his own decree, not by that decree alone whereby he determined to give them no power to believe, having lost it, but by that decree also, by which he purposeth that we should partake with Adam in his sinne, and be stripped of all that supernaturall power, which we had by Gods free grant, bestowed upon us in Adam before the fall: These are my reasons which move me to think, that this absolute decree is repugnant to Gods justice.

TWISSE Consideration.

I Have already shewed how Gods decree and impossibility arising upon supposi∣tion thereof, doth no way prejudice the liberty of the creature, as by pregnant passages of the Scripture is made plaine unto us. And as for the other decree here spoken of; First it is untrue which he supposeth, that, God by a speciall decree decreed all mankind to be made partakers of Adams sinne, and therein to be strip∣ped of all supernaturall power, which before the had by Gods free grant. For if it were just with God to decree, that Adams nature, upon his sinning, should be berea∣ved of all supernaturall power, which formerly he enjoyed, this and this alone should suffice to bereave all his posterity of supernaturall power to doe that which is good. For seeing all his posterity did receive their natures from Adam after his fall, they must therewithall necessarily receive their natures from him, bereaved of all su∣pernaturall power unto that which is good, untill such time, as God be pleased of his free grace to restore it by regeneration. 2. Is it not good reason that God, for Adams sinne, should bereave us of all supernaturall power in Adam, as of his meere grace he did adorne us all with supernaturall power in Adam? 3. Notwithstanding this depravation of supernaturall power in Adam, yet we acknowledge that never∣thelesse, whatsoever sinne a man commits, he committeth freely: and the Schoole hath taught it before us, Aquin. p. 1. q. 23. art. 3. ad. 3. licet aliquis non possit gratiam adi∣pisci qui reprobatur a Deo, tamen quòd in hoc peccatum vel illud labatur, ex ejus libero arbitrio contingit, undè & merito sibi imputatur in culpam.