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Truths Victory over Error

Paragraphs 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7

On Westminster Confession of Faith (1646) 5.1, Westminster Confession of Faith (1646) 5.2, Westminster Confession of Faith (1646) 5.3, Westminster Confession of Faith (1646) 5.4, Westminster Confession of Faith (1646) 5.5, Westminster Confession of Faith (1646) 5.6, Westminster Confession of Faith (1646) 5.7

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Of PROVIDENCE

Doth God uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all Creatures, their Actions, and all things from the greatest, even to the least?

Yes.a

Well then, do not the Socinians, Arminians, and that great Philosopher Durandus, with others called the Epicureans err, who deny, that God preserves all things immediately: to be the immediate cause of all things, which fall out: to govern things, which are contingent, and the free acts of the will of man, and evil Actions?

Yes.

By what reasons are they confuted?

(1) Because, it is God, that worketh all in all.b (2) Because, he worketh all things, according to the counsel of his own will.c (3) Because, of Him, and through Him, and to Him▪ are all things;d

Doth the Almighty Power, unsearchable wisdom and infinite goodness of God so far manifest themselves in his Providence, that it extendeth it self, even to the first fall, and all other sins of Angels, and Men; and that not by a bare Permission, but such as hath joyned with it, a most wise, and powerful bounding, and otherwise ordering, and governing of them, in a manifold dispensation, to his own holy ends?

Yes.e

Well then, do not the Lutherians, Papists, Arminians, and Socinians err, who maintain, that the Lord concurrs only to sinful actions, by a bare, naked, and idle Permission?

Yes.

By what reasons are they confuted?

(1) Because, the Scripture says, GOD blinds their eyes, and hardens their hearts, even actively, and judicially;f (2.) Because, God is said to punish one sin, with another.g (3) From the practise of Job, and David, who, when they were afflicted, and persecuted looked to God, and took it patiently;h

Doth the sinfulness of the action proceed only from the Creature, and not from God?

I answer, from the Creature only;i

Well then, do not the Libertines err, who affirm, God (without blasphemy be it spoken) to be the Author and Cause of all sin?

Yes.

By what reasons are they confuted?

(1) From Davids testimony;j (2) From Moses his testimony;k (3) From Daniels testimony;l (4) From the testimony ofm (5) From the testimony of John;n (6) From the testimony of Paul;o (7) From the testimony of Habukkuk;p From reason (1) because God is in the highest degree, essentially, and infinitely Holy, and Good, and therefore pure, and free, from every spot, and blemish,q (2) Because, God is absolutely perfect, and therefore he cannot fail, or be deficient in working (3) Because, God is the Judge of the World? He is the Forbidder, the Hater, and Revenger, of all sin, and unrighteousness, as contrary to his holy Nature, and Law: Exod chap: 20:r (4:) Because, by his own most absolute, and most supream dominion, Soveraignty, and infinite perfection, He is in, and of himself, above all Law whatsoever, and under the command of none, in Heaven; or in Earth.

Proofs

Each links to the Scripture index: what else cites the passage.

  1. aHebrews 1:3; Daniel 4:34–35; Psalm 135:6; Acts 17:25–26, 28; Job 38–41
  2. b1 Corinthians 12:5–6
  3. cEphesians 1:11
  4. dRomans 11:36
  5. eRomans 11:32–34; 2 Samuel 24:1; 1 Kings 21:22–23; 1 Chronicles 10:4, 13–14; 2 Samuel 16:10; Acts 14:16; Psalm 76:10; 2 Kings 19:28; Genesis 50:20
  6. fJohn 12:40; Exodus 7:3; Deuteronomy 2:30; Romans 9:18
  7. gRomans 1:24, 26, 28; 1 Thessalonians 2:11–12
  8. hJob 1:21
  9. iJames 1:13–14, 17; 1 John 2:16; Psalm 50:21
  10. jPsalm 5:4
  11. kDeuteronomy 32:4
  12. lDaniel 9:14
  13. mJames 1:13
  14. n1 John 2:16; 1:5
  15. oRomans 3:3–5
  16. pHabakkuk 1:13
  17. qIsaiah 6:3; Psalm 78:41; 1 Peter 1:15–16; Leviticus 11:44
  18. rRomans 3:5–6; Genesis 18:25; Romans 1:17; Psalm 5:4

Cite this

Truths Victory over Error (1684) on 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7, symbolics.dev/dickson1684/5

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