Rome ruin'd by VVhite Hall, or, The papall crown demolisht

SECT. 4.

Obj. IF God be the Author of the induration of the heart, as it is a punishment of sin, then he may as well be said to be the Au∣thor of other sins, when as a man falleth into them, as the punish∣ments of his former sins.

Ans. All such sins proceed from the hardnesse of the heart,* 1.1 that confirmeth and setleth a sinner in his wickednesse, and there∣fore God cannot be said to be a cause of those sins, for a man by continuing in sin hath his heart hardned, by the just judgement of God; and then out of the hardnesse of his owne heart, he bring∣eth forth other sins of himselfe.

Obj. The hardnesse of the heart as it is a great and horrible sin, so is it the punishment of former sins; wherefore if God doe cause it to be a punishment, he also causeth it as it is a sin.

Ans. In this Argument there are ambiguous termes, for in the first clause this note of similitude, (as) is taken for the being of the thing; the bardnesse of the heart, as it is a sinne, so it is the punishment of sin, that it could not be the punishment of sin un∣lesse it were sin; this we grant in the first part: but the same word (as) signifieth also the manner of being. Therefore if the first be taken in the same sense, for one and the same manner of being, we deny that the hardnesse of the heart (in the same re∣spect) is both sin, and the punishment of sin. It is, both in respect of the subject, and being; but not both in the same quality, affe∣ction, and manner of being.

Obj. All punishments of sin, because they are just stand with the will of God; now hardnesse of heart being a sin, if it should stand with the Will of God, then it would follow, that sin should stand with the Will of God.

Ans. If sin should no way stand with the Will of God, then it should not be committed in the world, for against his will can nothing be, so that we must admit a distinction of Gods will which* 1.2 is twofold, viz. his will of approbation, and his will of providence; by the first he willeth not sin, but by the second he willeth it to be in the world, because he knoweth how to dispose of sin even un∣to good. Many things are done without Gods Wil, nothing without his providence. Providence is that whereby he dispose∣eth

of things, Will whereby he willeth, or nilleth any thing; and therefore it is good that evill should be done, because thereby Gods power and goodnesse is seen, in turning evill unto good. If therefore God did not see how to turne evill unto a good end, he would not suffer evill to be done in the world. So then retaining the formes distinction, stil hardnesse of heart (as it is a sin) God willeth it not, but as it is a punishment of sin, it standeth very wel with the Justice of God.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Popish obje∣ctions an∣swered.
• * 1.2

  The will of God two-fold.