he_o yet_o the_o fault_n only_o be_v his_o own_o because_o he_o willing_o turn_v the_o sword_n against_o himself_o when_o a_o physician_n according_a to_o the_o true_a rule_n of_o art_n shall_v administer_v wholesome_a physic_n to_o his_o patient_n for_o such_o or_o such_o a_o disease_n and_o this_o meeting_n with_o some_o hide_a distemper_n or_o corrupt_v humour_n in_o the_o body_n shall_v cause_v great_a pain_n or_o it_o may_v be_v death_n yet_o here_o neither_o the_o physic_n nor_o physician_n be_v to_o be_v blame_v because_o the_o work_n of_o both_o these_o in_o their_o own_o nature_n tend_v to_o health_n and_o be_v fit_a to_o procure_v it_o when_o jason_n have_v his_o imposthume_n cure_v by_o the_o thrust_v of_o a_o sword_n into_o his_o body_n by_o the_o hand_n of_o his_o enemy_n this_o be_v no_o thank_n to_o his_o enemy_n who_o intend_v not_o his_o health_n but_o his_o death_n so_o on_o the_o contrary_a it_o be_v no_o blame_n to_o the_o physician_n that_o intend_v health_n and_o use_v fit_a mean_n to_o procure_v it_o though_o death_n follow_v by_o accident_n when_o the_o same_o sun_n beam_n light_n upon_o a_o garden_n and_o a_o dunghill_n and_o raise_v a_o sweet_a smell_n from_o the_o one_o and_o a_o ill_a savour_n from_o the_o other_o neither_o the_o sun_n nor_o the_o beam_n thereof_o be_v to_o be_v blame_v because_o the_o efficacy_n of_o they_o do_v extend_v to_o both_o a_o like_a but_o the_o different_a effect_n do_v arise_v from_o the_o difference_n of_o the_o matter_n whereon_o they_o do_v light_a the_o like_a instance_n also_o may_v be_v bring_v from_o scripture_n when_o a_o man_n be_v hew_a wood_n with_o a_o axe_n and_o the_o head_n of_o the_o axe_n slip_v from_o the_o helve_z and_o slay_v the_o slander_n by_o here_o neither_o the_o axe_n nor_o the_o man_n be_v to_o be_v blame_v though_o they_o have_v a_o efficiency_n in_o the_o death_n of_o the_o other_o because_o they_o be_v only_a cause_n by_o accident_n the_o scope_n of_o neither_o be_v to_o hurt_v the_o slander_n by_o deut._n 19.5_o when_o king_n uzziah_n go_v into_o the_o temple_n of_o the_o lord_n to_o burn_v incense_n azariah_n with_o fourscore_o other_o priest_n go_v in_o after_o he_o and_o withstand_v he_o tell_v he_o that_o it_o do_v not_o belong_v to_o he_o to_o burn_v incense_n to_o the_o lord_n than_o it_o be_v say_v vzziah_n be_v wrath_n 2_o chron._n 26.16,17,18,19_o here_o the_o priest_n be_v cause_n of_o the_o wrath_n of_o the_o king_n but_o no_o faulty_a cause_n because_o they_o do_v but_o their_o duty_n and_o their_o intention_n be_v only_o to_o hinder_v he_o from_o do_v that_o which_o be_v unlawful_a for_o he_o to_o do_v but_o not_o to_o provoke_v he_o to_o anger_n and_o wrath_n when_o the_o pharisee_n be_v fill_v with_o wrath_n against_o christ_n and_o the_o jew_n breast_n with_o anger_n against_o stephen_n because_o they_o just_o reprove_v they_o they_o be_v accidental_a cause_n of_o their_o wrath_n and_o anger_n but_o no_o faulty_a cause_n the_o apostle_n say_v that_o the_o law_n cause_v wrath_n rom._n 4.15_o it_o cause_v wrath_n by_o mean_n of_o transgression_n for_o transgression_n only_o proper_o cause_v wrath_n as_o the_o law_n be_v the_o cause_n of_o wrath_n so_o likewise_o be_v the_o cause_n of_o transgression_n namely_o a_o accidental_a cause_n yet_o no_o faulty_a cause_n for_o the_o proper_a end_n of_o the_o law_n be_v neither_o to_o procure_v wrath_n nor_o to_o procure_v transgression_n but_o rather_o to_o be_v a_o mean_n to_o preserve_v man_n from_o both_o these_o by_o direct_v he_o so_o to_o walk_v as_o he_o may_v please_v god_n so_o when_o he_o say_v that_o the_o motion_n of_o sin_n be_v by_o the_o law_n that_o be_v be_v stir_v up_o by_o the_o law_n rom._n 7.5_o and_o that_o sin_n take_v occasion_n by_o the_o commandment_n and_o wrought_v in_o he_o all_o manner_n of_o conceupiscence_n verse_n 11._o here_o sin_n be_v say_v to_o be_v stir_v up_o by_o the_o law_n and_o to_o take_v occasion_n by_o the_o commandment_n of_o work_a concupiscence_n and_o therefore_o the_o law_n have_v some_o kind_n of_o efficiency_n in_o produce_v of_o sin_n it_o be_v a_o accidental_a cause_n but_o no_o faulty_a cause_n as_o the_o law_n be_v in_o itself_o holy_a and_o just_a and_o good_a rom._n 7.12_o so_o it_o be_v good_a that_o it_o shall_v be_v bring_v to_o man_n understanding_n by_o the_o knowledge_n of_o it_o and_o to_o his_o will_n and_o affection_n by_o the_o right_a application_n of_o it_o but_o the_o more_o this_o be_v do_v he_o be_v lest_o to_o himself_o the_o more_o do_v it_o irritate_fw-la and_o stir_v up_o corruption_n in_o he_o and_o his_o will_n by_o reason_n of_o the_o contrariety_n that_o be_v in_o it_o to_o the_o holy_a law_n of_o god_n wax_v so_o much_o more_o stubborn_a and_o rebellious_a as_o the_o law_n be_v more_o close_o apply_v to_o it_o when_o the_o apostle_n say_v that_o believer_n be_v not_o under_o the_o law_n rom._n 6.14_o and_o that_o they_o be_v deliver_v from_o the_o law_n that_o be_v dead_a namely_o that_o corruption_n wherein_o we_o be_v hold_v rom._n 7.6_o this_o must_v needs_o be_v understand_v of_o the_o accidental_a work_n of_o the_o law_n whereby_o by_o mean_n of_o our_o corruption_n it_o stir_v up_o sin_n in_o we_o for_o it_o can_v be_v understand_v of_o the_o law_n as_o it_o be_v a_o rule_n of_o obedience_n because_o then_o the_o law_n shall_v be_v whole_o abolish_v to_o which_o the_o apostle_n give_v a_o absit_fw-la do_v we_o then_o make_v the_o law_n of_o none_o effect_v through_o faith_n god_n forbid_v rom._n 3.31_o neither_o can_v it_o be_v understand_v in_o this_o place_n of_o the_o condemn_a power_n of_o the_o law_n for_o though_o it_o be_v true_a that_o believer_n be_v free_v from_o the_o curse_n and_o condemnation_n of_o the_o law_n yet_o this_o be_v a_o effect_n of_o justification_n and_o have_v reference_n to_o that_o whereas_o the_o subject_n of_o the_o apostle_n discourse_n in_o these_o two_o chapter_n where_o he_o speak_v of_o freedom_n from_o the_o law_n namely_o the_o six_o and_o seven_o be_v altogether_o about_o sanctification_n and_o he_o bring_v many_o argument_n to_o prove_v the_o necessary_a connexion_n of_o these_o two_o together_o and_o this_o among_o the_o rest_n because_o they_o be_v not_o under_o the_o law_n they_o be_v deliver_v from_o it_o they_o must_v not_o suffer_v sin_n to_o reign_v in_o their_o mortal_a because_o they_o be_v not_o under_o the_o law_n but_o under_o grace_n cap._n 6.14_o they_o be_v deliver_v from_o the_o law_n lust_n and_o concupiscence_n be_v kill_v in_o they_o chap._n 7.6_o how_o be_v they_o not_o under_o the_o law_n how_o be_v they_o deliver_v from_o it_o so_o far_o as_o they_o be_v true_o sanctify_v they_o be_v no_o long_o under_o the_o accidental_a work_n of_o the_o law_n whereby_o it_o have_v power_n to_o irritate_fw-la and_o stir_v up_o the_o rebellion_n and_o corruption_n of_o their_o nature_n and_o so_o to_o cause_v sin_n more_o to_o abound_v in_o they_o be_v implant_v into_o christ_n and_o make_v partaker_n of_o the_o virtue_n of_o his_o death_n and_o resurrection_n their_o old_a man_n be_v crucify_v and_o their_o body_n of_o sin_n destroy_v so_o as_o they_o shall_v no_o long_o serve_v sin_n as_o they_o do_v before_o chap._n 6.6_o while_o they_o be_v in_o the_o flesh_n the_o motion_n of_o sin_n which_o be_v by_o the_o law_n which_o be_v stir_v up_o by_o have_v the_o law_n bring_v near_o to_o they_o do_v work_v in_o their_o member_n to_o bring_v forth_o fruit_n unto_o death_n but_o they_o be_v deliver_v from_o the_o law_n from_o that_o accidental_a work_n of_o the_o law_n that_o be_v dead_a wherein_o they_o be_v hold_v their_o sinful_a lust_n be_v in_o part_n mortify_v that_o they_o shall_v serve_v god_n in_o newness_n of_o spirit_n and_o not_o in_o the_o oldness_n of_o the_o letter_n chap._n 7.5.6_o by_o both_o which_o place_n it_o appear_v that_o the_o law_n have_v power_n to_o stir_v up_o sin_n and_o corruption_n in_o those_o that_o be_v in_o the_o a_o state_n of_o corruption_n that_o remain_v as_o yet_o altogether_o unsanctified_a and_o so_o it_o be_v a_o accidental_a cause_n of_o sin_n yet_o no_o faulty_a cause_n that_o remain_v still_o holy_a and_o just_a and_o good_a in_o this_o sense_n likewise_o christ_n say_v of_o himself_o that_o be_v come_v not_o to_o send_v peace_n but_o the_o sword_n that_o he_o come_v to_o set_v a_o man_n at_o variance_n against_o his_o father_n and_o the_o daughter_n against_o the_o mother_n mat._n 10.34,35_o that_o he_o come_v to_o set_v fire_n on_o the_o earth_n luk._n 12.49_o how_o be_v this_o to_o be_v take_v that_o christ_n come_v not_o to_o send_v peace_n but_o the_o sword_n be_v he_o not_o the_o author_n and_o
a_o treatise_n tend_v to_o show_v that_o the_o just_a and_o holy_a god_n may_v have_v a_o hand_n in_o the_o unjust_a action_n of_o sinful_a man_n and_o that_o in_o such_o a_o way_n as_o shall_v be_v without_o any_o impeachment_n of_o his_o justness_n and_o holiness_n or_o diminution_n of_o his_o power_n and_o providence_n by_o thomas_n whitfield_n minister_n of_o the_o gospel_n the_o lord_n be_v just_a in_o all_o his_o way_n and_o holy_a in_o all_o his_o work_n psal_n 145.17_o how_o unsearchable_a be_v his_o judgement_n and_o his_o way_n past_o find_v out_o rom._n 11.33_o london_n print_v for_o john_n wright_n at_o the_o king_n head_n in_o the_o old-bayley_n 1653._o to_o the_o right_n honourable_a edward_n lord_n montague_n of_o boughton_n a_o fruitful_a increase_n of_o piety_n prosperity_n and_o all_o true_a happiness_n both_o here_o and_o hereafter_o my_o noble_a lord_n it_o will_v not_o a_o little_a conduce_v to_o the_o happiness_n of_o our_o life_n if_o our_o thought_n which_o be_v the_o immediate_a and_o to_o oft_o abortive_a issue_n of_o our_o mind_n be_v right_o employ_v and_o improve_v then_o be_v they_o well_o employ_v when_o they_o be_v conversant_a about_o the_o most_o excellent_a object_n when_o they_o be_v take_v up_o with_o the_o contemplation_n of_o the_o wisdom_n power_n providence_n justice_n holiness_n and_o other_o excellent_a attribute_n of_o he_o who_o be_v excellency_n itself_o in_o the_o fruition_n of_o who_o be_v our_o high_a felicity_n this_o make_v the_o sweet_a singer_n of_o israel_n to_o say_v how_o precious_a be_v thy_o thought_n to_o i_o o_o god_n how_o great_a be_v the_o sum_n of_o they_o psa_fw-la 139._o as_o if_o he_o have_v say_v the_o thought_n of_o thy_o wisdom_n and_o wonderful_a working_n of_o thy_o providence_n thing_n which_o before_o he_o have_v mention_v be_v of_o great_a price_n and_o worth_n be_v thing_n of_o incomprehensible_a excellency_n yea_o they_o be_v as_o rare_a as_o precious_a the_o mind_n of_o most_o man_n be_v so_o seldom_o take_v up_o with_o they_o i_o be_o bold_a to_o present_v to_o your_o lordship_n this_o small_a treatise_n that_o it_o may_v give_v you_o occasion_n to_o entertain_v such_o thought_n as_o these_o as_o also_o that_o it_o may_v be_v a_o testimony_n of_o my_o thankful_a acknowledgement_n of_o all_o that_o honourable_a respect_n i_o have_v receive_v from_o you_o thus_o humble_o implore_v the_o father_n of_o mercy_n that_o he_o will_v far_o enrich_v you_o with_o the_o true_a treasure_n &_o enable_v you_o inward_o with_o the_o grace_n of_o his_o spirit_n proportionable_o to_o those_o outward_a endowment_n wherewith_o he_o have_v be_v please_v to_o dignify_v you_o i_o resign_v you_o to_o his_o mercy_n &_o rest_v your_o honour_n in_o all_o due_a observance_n and_o christian_a service_n tho._n whitfield_n the_o preface_n it_o have_v be_v a_o question_n much_o controvert_v in_o all_o age_n how_o the_o good_a and_o holy_a god_n can_v have_v a_o hand_n in_o the_o great_a evil_n that_o be_v do_v in_o the_o world_n quomodo_fw-la id_fw-la non_fw-la fieret_fw-la praeter_fw-la dei_fw-la voluntate_fw-la quod_fw-la fit_a contra_fw-la voluntatem_fw-la as_o austin_n speak_v this_o be_v do_v miro_n &_o ineffabili_fw-la modo_fw-la as_o he_o say_v this_o one_o of_o the_o mystery_n and_o depth_n of_o divinity_n worthy_a our_o search_n into_o scripture_n expression_n for_o the_o most_o part_n hold_v this_o forth_o by_o way_n of_o action_n as_o when_o it_o be_v say_v that_o god_n harden_v pharaoh_n heart_n that_o he_o send_v joseph_n into_o egypt_n that_o he_o take_v away_o job_n cattle_n which_o be_v take_v away_o by_o the_o chaldaean_n and_o subaeans_n and_o the_o like_a papist_n and_o arminian_o confine_v this_o only_a to_o a_o way_n of_o permission_n without_o action_n and_o calumniate_v our_o orthodox_n divine_v as_o if_o they_o make_v god_n the_o author_n of_o sin_n because_o they_o bring_v it_o within_o the_o compass_n of_o his_o will_n and_o decree_n and_o make_v he_o to_o have_v a_o kind_n of_o action_n in_o it_o thus_o bellarmine_n charge_v zunighlius_n calvin_n peter_n martyr_n beza_n the_o like_a impuration_n also_o arminius_n seek_v to_o fasten_v on_o mr._n perkins_n i_o know_v well_o that_o it_o be_v far_o beyond_o my_o ability_n to_o untie_v this_o knot_n as_o may_v give_v satisfaction_n to_o all_o but_o if_o i_o may_v contribute_v any_o beam_n of_o light_n towards_o the_o clear_a discovery_n of_o god_n manner_n of_o proceed_v in_o the_o production_n of_o fin_n if_o i_o may_v help_v to_o vindicate_v the_o innocency_n and_o orthodoxy_n of_o our_o worthy_a writer_n from_o the_o unjust_a aspersion_n of_o their_o adversary_n especial_o if_o i_o may_v in_o any_o sort_n vindicate_v the_o all_o wise_a and_o all-working_a providence_n and_o power_n of_o god_n from_o that_o overmuch_a streightning_n and_o diminution_n which_o have_v be_v put_v upon_o they_o for_o the_o maintain_n of_o his_o justice_n if_o i_o say_v i_o may_v by_o this_o discourse_n be_v helpefull_a any_o of_o these_o way_n i_o shall_v attain_v the_o end_n which_o i_o aim_v at_o whereunto_o i_o shall_v only_o promise_v these_o thing_n brief_o 1._o that_o this_o discourse_n be_v not_o so_o much_o intend_v for_o those_o of_o the_o learned_a sort_n who_o be_v better_a able_a to_o inform_v these_o line_n as_o for_o such_o ingenuous_a christian_n who_o when_o they_o meet_v with_o those_o scripture_n wherein_o by_o the_o sound_n of_o the_o word_n god_n seem_v to_o be_v make_v the_o proper_a cause_n of_o sin_n they_o stumble_v at_o they_o and_o not_o be_v able_a to_o satisfy_v themselves_o desire_v help_v this_o way_n 2._o i_o shall_v desire_v the_o indifferent_a reader_n that_o if_o in_o this_o discourse_n he_o shall_v meet_v with_o that_o which_o may_v seem_v to_o go_v high_a than_o many_o of_o our_o divine_n have_v do_v in_o make_v god_n to_o have_v a_o active_a hand_n in_o the_o action_n of_o sinful_a man_n he_o will_v forbear_v either_o to_o reject_v or_o censure_v till_o he_o have_v weigh_v the_o strength_n of_o the_o argument_n bring_v to_o prove_v the_o thing_n propound_v 3._o if_o i_o shall_v let_v fall_v any_o thing_n in_o this_o treatise_n which_o shall_v not_o be_v agreeable_a to_o clear_a evidence_n of_o scripture_n and_o this_o be_v make_v appear_v to_o be_v so_o i_o shall_v not_o refuse_v to_o unsay_v any_o thing_n which_o i_o have_v say_v and_o ready_o to_o embrace_v any_o truth_n though_o not_o agree_v with_o my_o former_a apprehension_n the_o good_a spirit_n of_o truth_n make_v we_o all_o lover_n of_o truth_n and_o lead_v we_o into_o all_o those_o way_n of_o truth_n which_o may_v bring_v we_o at_o length_n to_o the_o enjoy_n of_o he_o who_o be_v the_o author_n of_o truth_n amen_n exodus_fw-la 9.12_o and_o the_o lord_n harden_v pharaoh_n heart_n etc._n etc._n it_o be_v a_o principal_a privilege_n belong_v to_o the_o covenant_n of_o grace_n and_o a_o special_a promise_n which_o god_n have_v make_v unto_o his_o people_n that_o he_o will_v take_v away_o their_o stony_a heart_n from_o they_o and_o give_v unto_o they_o heart_n of_o flesh_n ezek._n 36.26_o that_o be_v that_o he_o will_v take_v away_o the_o hardness_n of_o their_o heart_n how_o god_n shall_v take_v away_o the_o hardness_n of_o heart_n in_o some_o and_o yet_o harden_v the_o heart_n of_o other_o be_v not_o easy_a to_o apprehend_v the_o scope_n of_o this_o treatise_n be_v to_o show_v how_o the_o just_a and_o holy_a god_n may_v have_v a_o hand_n in_o the_o sinful_a action_n of_o man_n and_o that_o not_o only_o by_o way_n of_o permission_n but_o also_o by_o some_o kind_n of_o operation_n and_o work_n and_o yet_o this_o be_v do_v without_o any_o diminution_n of_o his_o justice_n or_o violation_n of_o his_o holiness_n but_o still_o he_o remain_v to_o be_v most_o just_a in_o all_o his_o way_n and_o holy_a in_o all_o his_o work_n chap._n i._o show_v what_o hardness_n of_o heart_n be_v hardness_n of_o heart_n may_v be_v say_v to_o be_v a_o evil_a quality_n of_o the_o soul_n which_o make_v it_o in_o a_o man_n insensible_a of_o the_o evil_n which_o he_o do_v or_o the_o evil_n which_o he_o shall_v suffer_v when_o either_o he_o have_v no_o feel_n of_o it_o or_o feel_v it_o not_o in_o that_o measure_n which_o he_o shall_v do_v then_o be_v his_o heart_n affect_v with_o hardness_n it_o be_v man_n duty_n to_o be_v sensible_a of_o the_o sin_n which_o he_o commit_v and_o of_o the_o suffering_n which_o will_v most_o certain_o follow_v after_o god_n have_v place_v in_o his_o soul_n that_o faculty_n of_o conscience_n for_o this_o very_a end_n and_o purpose_n to_o give_v he_o warning_n and_o make_v he_o take_v notice_n of_o both_o these_o that_o he_o may_v be_v affect_v according_o now_o when_o after_o the_o commit_n of_o sin_n there_o be_v no_o affection_n of_o grief_n sorrow_n