Expository notes, with practical observations; towards the opening of the five first chapters of the first book of Moses called Genesis. Delivered by way of exposition in several lords-dayes exercises.: By Benjamin Needler, minister of the gospel at Margaret Moses Friday-Street, London.

33. Rule.

To say this or that opinion is untrue, because it doth in ••erminis contradict some place of Scripture, will not hold. For in∣stance,

To say that Christ is not equall with the Father, is expressely contrary to that Scripture, He thought it no robbery to be equal with God; yet agreeable enough to that of Christ himselfe, My Father is greater then ••: To say God cannot repent, is in terminis to contradict some places of Scri∣pture: To say, God can repent, is in terminis to contradict other places of Scripture; yet neither of these are unsound, because in terminis onely to contradict the Scri∣pture, is not to contradict indeed the Scripture; but when we contradict the

meaning of the Scripture, then, and not till then, we are justly said to contradict the Scripture. For instance,

To deny Gods delight in the destruction of sinners, is to contradict in terminis that place of Scripture, I will laugh at your ca∣lamity: and to say, God doth delight in the * 1.1 destruction of sinners, doth in terminis con∣tradict another place of Scripture, As I live, saith the Lord, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked. And yet never a whit * 1.2 the more contradiction found in the Scri∣pture for all this.

As for example, it is both true, that the Father is greater then the Son, as touching the Sonnes manhood, and the Son equall to the Father, as touching the Sonnes God-head. So of repentance it cannot be at∣tributed unto God as it signifies a change of minde, or counsell, but it may be at∣tributed unto God, as it signifies change of sentence, according to that Axiome, Deus mutat sententiam, nunquam consilium. So, as touching Gods pleasure, or delight in the death of a sinner, as it is the destruction of a creature, he delights not in it; but as it is the just punishment of a sinfull creature he delights therein: God delights in the execution of justice, as appeares in Jere∣miah;

But let him that glorieth, glory in * 1.3 this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord, which exercise loving kindnesse, judgement and righteousnesse on the earth; for in these things I delight, saith the Lord: God delights in the exercise of judgement and righteousnesse, as well as in the exercise of loving kindness.

In like manner we say, that two Propo∣sitions may contradict each other in termi∣nis, and yet may agree well enough, as to the sense and meaning of them. For in∣stance, These two Propositions, 1. Adam might not have sinned. 2. It could not be but that Adam would sinne, are both true; That Adam might not have sinned, is true of Adam in the sense of division, considered as in himself: It could not be but that Adam would sinne, is true of Adam in the sense of composition, being considered as subordi∣nate to the decrees of God.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Prov. ••.26.
• * 1.2

  Ezek. 33.1.
• * 1.3

  Jer. 9.24.