PREFACE. XV11 



Mayn waring, whose sermon upon Eccles. viii. 2, etc. 

 gave such high offence, about one hundred and fifty 

 years ago. &quot; For some doctrines, which he noteih in 

 his lordship s confession, the reader ought to call to 



and degree) made way unto the dispensation of his most holy and 

 secret will, whereby some of his creatures might stand and keep 

 their state; others might, possibly, fall, and be restored; and 

 others might fall, and not be restored in their estate, but yet 

 remain in being, although under wrath and corruption; all with 

 respect to the Mediator ; which is the great mystery, and per 

 fect centre of all God s ways with his creatures; and unto which 

 all his other works and wonders do but serve and refer/ 



&quot; Here absolute reprobation seems to be defended, in that 

 the will of God is made the reason of the riot-restitution of some; 

 at leastwise his Lordship seems to say, that twas God s will that 

 some should fall, unless that may be meant of voluntas permis- 

 siva (his will of permission). 



&quot; In page414, 1. 10, where he saith, (amongst the generations 

 of men he elected a small flock,) if that were admitted (of fallen 

 men,) it would not be amiss; lest any should conceive that his 

 Lordship had meant, the decree had passed on massa incorrupta, 

 (on mankind considered before the fall). 



&quot; In page 415, 1. 8, are these words : 



&quot; Man made a total defection from God, presuming to 

 imagine, that the commandments and prohibitions of God, were 

 not the rules of good and evil, but that good and evil had their 

 own principles and beginnings. 



&quot; Consider whether this be a rule universal, that the com 

 mands and prohibitions of God are the rules of good and evil. 

 For, as St. Austin saith, many things are prohibita quia mala 

 (for that reason forbidden, because they are evil :) as those sin 

 which the schools call specifical. 



&quot; In page 415, 1. antepen. are these words : 



&quot; The three heavenly unities exceed all natural unities, 

 VOL. VII. C 



