Friday, December 10, 2021

Examples of “Infinite Goodness” in pre-1703 theological literature

  

And he had done (if we may believe his Oath) as much for his Vineyard as the Concurrence of his Infinite Power and Wisdome could effect without disparagement to the Infinitie of his Majestie, or that Internal Law, of Rule of Infinite Goodness whereby he created man after his own Image and Similitude. (Thomas Jackson, ΜΑΡΑΝ ΑΘΑ: Or Dominus Veniet. Commentaries upon These Articles of the Creed Never heretofore printed [London: A. Maxey, 1657], Book XI, 3776)

 

Would you conquer the Love of Riches, or Honour, or any thing else that corrupteth your affections? Or try this sure and powerful way I Draw night to God, and take the fullest view that thou canst, in thy most serious Meditation of his Infinite goodness, an all things else will be vile in thy esteem, and thy heart will soon contemn them and forget them, and thou wilt never dote upon them more.

 

4. The Infinite goodness of God, should increase Repentance, and win the soul to a more resolute chearful service of the Lord. O what a heart is that which can offend, and wilfully offend so good a God! This is the odiousness of sin, that it is an abuse of an Infinite good. This is the most hainous damning agravation of it, that Infinite goodness could not prevail with wretched souls against the empty flatting world! but that they suffered a dream and shadow, to weigh down Infinite goodness in their esteem. . . . But it is ten thousand times greater evil that every wicked man is guilty of, that will rather forsake the Living God, and lose his part in Infinite goodness, then he will let go his filthy and unprofitable sins . . . (Richard Baxter, The Divine Life in Three Treatises [London: Francis Tyson, 1664], 68)

 

Now what is there the mind of man can possibly excogitate more expressive of a Being of infinite Perfection than Infinite Goodness, Wisdom, and Power? (Bishop L. Womock, Deus Justificatus: or the Divine Goodness vindicated [London: E. Cotes, 1668], 83)