Wesley Corpus

From the justice and goodness of God we may infer, that though man was made free, with a power to choose either evil or good, that he might be put into a state of pro bation, yet he had a full sufficiency of power to preserve him self in love and obedience to his Creator, and to guard him self against every temptation.” (Page 8.) “3. It is highly probable, from the goodness of God, that such a creature would be made immortal: It is true, the great God, as sovereign Lord of his creatures, might take away all that he had given; but it is hard to suppose, that he ever would have destroyed an intelligent creature who had continued to serve and please him.” (Page 9.) “It is also probable that he was endued with a power to arrive at higher degrees of excellency and happiness than those in which he was formed at first ; and hereby he was greatly encouraged, both to watch against every sin, and to use all zeal and diligence in improving the powers he had received. “4. We may add, that the habitation in which a God of infinite goodness would place such an innocent and holy crea ture, would be furnished with all the necessaries and conveni ences of life, and prepared for his delight as well as safety. And so Moses tells us, that the first created pair were placed in Eden, a garden of pleasure, and were made lords of all therein, of all the creatures, animal and vegetable, that were round about them.” (Page 10.) “Neither can we conceive that anything destructive or hurtful could be found in this delightful habitation, but what man would have sufficient notice of, with sufficient power to oppose or avoid it. “5. And if this creature had power to propagate its kind, the child must be innocent and holy, and equally capable of persevering in virtue and happiness.” (Page 11.) “Now, if we may judge from the wisdom, justice, and goodness of God, that these are the qualifications with which such a new-made creature would be endued, these the circum stances in which he would be situated; then, by a careful sur vey of what mankind is now, we may easily judge whether man is now such a creature as the great and blessed God made him at first.