Autokatakrisis, or, Self-condemnation,: exemplified in Mr. Whitfield, Mr. Barlee, and Mr. Hickman. With occasional reflexions on Mr Calvin, Mr Beza, Mr Zuinglius, Mr Piscator, Mr Rivet, and Mr Rollock: but more especially on Doctor Twisse, and Master Hobbs; against whom, God's purity and his præscience ... with the sincere intention and the general extent of the death of Christ, are finally cleared and made good; and the adversaries absurdities ... are proved against them undeniably, out of their own hand-writings. With an additional advertisement of Mr Baxter's late book entituled The Groatian religion discovered, &c. By Thomas Pierce rector of Brington in Northampon-shire.

Sect. 11.

Not many lines farther,* 1.1 he forgets himself thus, [

As for future moral evil things, whether original or actual sins, God foreknew them all in the same moment of Eternity, because even then he did by his permissive and ordinative will determine that they should fall out, p. 22.]

Here let him distinguish, that his just meaning may appear. Does he mean Gods ordering onely of all sins, or his ordaining them also? If so, then it is blasphe∣my; if not so, it is contrary to the Assemblies Catechism, and Confession of Faith too, and as contrary to himself. For it is said by that Assembly, that God by the counsel of his own Will, did freely and unchangeably* 1.2 ordain whatso∣ever comes to pass. And again, say they, He hath† 1.3 fore∣ordained whatsoever comes to pass. Thus the Assembly of Divines. And Mr. B. himself affirms Gods Praescience to be subordinate to his Decree both in the moments of Time and Nature, p. 23. l. 5. Agreeable to which is the Pulpit-Doctrine of Mr. Case: [

This is the⁂ 1.4 plot of Divine Pro∣vidence, which he hath been * contriving from the dayes of Eternity; the miscarriage of the first Covenant was not of improvidence, but of * ordination.]

But Doctor Twisse and Mr. Whitfield will have it thus;† 1.5

God did not onely will [the sin of Adam] from Eternity, but con∣formably to it did so work in time, and so administer the whole business, as that Adam might [or should] really [or effectually] sin.

Mr. W. approves of this extremely, and translates it so, as to leave out the word whole, (which is in the Latine of great Importance) and renders reverâ by

certainly, by which he meant unavoidably, if he meant at that as at other times. Thus we see 'tis the Doctrine of Mr. B. his Brethren, and his Masters also, that God ordai∣ned all sins both original and actual, and that he foreknew them, because he foreordained them.

2. By this the Reader may judge,* 1.6 what sense he puts on the word Permissive, when he adds Ordinative to it for explication. If the man should have said, that the world was created by Gods permissive and ordinative will, he had onely spoke non-sense, and had but moved his Rea∣ders laughter. Whereas in saying that original and actu∣al sins were determined to fall out by Gods permissive and ordinative will, he adds blasphemy to non-sense, and cannot but stir up his Readers wrath.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1. Mr. B's. posi∣tive Doctrine of Gods ordai∣ning all sins, both original and actual.
• * 1.2

  Assem. Confes. of Faith, c. 3. Artic. 1.
• † 1.3

  Assem. short Catech. p. 158. Edit. Lond. 1656.
• ⁂ 1.4

  M. Case his Sermon, Inti∣tuled, The va∣nity of glorying in the flesh. p. 58.
• † 1.5

  Non tantùm voluiss•• De∣um ab aeterno dicimus, sed conformiter ita operatum esse in tempore, & totum negotium ita administrasse, ut revērâ peccaret Adamus. Vin. l. 2. p. 27. cited by Mr. W. in Ext. of D. Prov. p. 10.
• * 1.6

  2. Mr. B's. Non∣sense added to Blasphemy.