But not on this account alone would I have been reluctant to return, after so long an interval of time, to this darling university ; but another care, another office, and that by far the most weighty, was, by the concurring voice of the senate of the university, and notwithstanding my most earnest requests to the contrary, intrusted and assigned to me, and by the undertaking of which I have knowingly and wittingly compounded with the loss of my peace and all my studious pursuits. ^
Such, candid reader, is the account of the author of the following little treatise, and of his situation when composing it ; a man not wise in the estimation of others, — in his own, very foolish ; first called from rural retirement and the noise of arms to this university, and very lately again returned to it from excursions in the cause of the gospel, not only to the extremities of this island, but to coasts beyond the seas, and now again deeply engaged in the various and weighty duties of his station. Whether any thing exalted or refined can be expected from such a person is easy for any one to determine.
With regard to our manner of writing, or Latin diction, as some are wont to acquire great praise from their sublimity of expression, allow me but a word or two. Know, then, readei*, that you have to do with a person who, provided his words but clearly express the sentiments of his mind, entertains a fixed and abso- lute disregard for all elegance and ornaments of speech ; for, —
" Dicite, pontifices, in sacris quid faoit aunim ?"
" Say, bishops, of what avail i;J glitter to sacred subjects I"
In my opinion, indeed, he who, in a theological contest, should please himself with the idea of displaying rhetorical flourishes, would derive no other advantage therefrom but that his head, adorned ^vith magnificent verbose garlands and pel- lets, would foil a richer victim to the criticisms of the learned.
But whatever shall be the decision of the serious and judicious with respect to this treatise, if I shall any how stir up an emulation in others, on whom the grace of God may have bestowed moi-e excellent gifts, to l)ring forward to public utility their pious, solid, and learned labours, and shall excite them, from their light, to confer light on the splendour of this university, I shall be abundantly gratified. Farewell, pious reader, and think not lightly of him wlio hath used his most zealous endeavours to serve thy interest in the cause of the gospel.
John Owen.
1 Mr T. GoodniT, president of Magdalen CoUcqe.
2 111 the year 1G51 Dr Owen was settled in the deanery of Clirist Cliurch, and in 1C02 chosen vire- ohancellor of tliat university.
A
DISSERTATION ON DIVINE JUSTICE.
CHAPTER I.
The introduction — The design of the work — Atheists— The prolepsis' of divine justice in general — The divisions of justice, according to Aristotle — The senti- ments of the schoohnen respecting these — Another division — Justice con- sidered absolutely; then in various respects.
In this treatise we are to discourse of God and of his justice, the most ilhistrious of all the divine perfections, but especially of his vindicatory justice f of the certainty of which I most firmly believe that all mankind will, one time or other, be made fully sensible, either by faith in it here, as revealed in the word, or by feeling its effects, to their extreme misery, in the world hereafter, Rom. ii. 8, 9, 12; 2 Thess. i. 7-9. But as the human mind is blind to divine light, and as both our understandings and tongues are inadequate to conceive of God aright and to declare him (hence that common and just observation, that it is an arduous thing to speak of God aright), [and much darkness rests upon divine things],^ that we may handle so important a subject with that reverence and perspicuity wherewith it becomes it to be treated, we must chiefly depend on His aid who was " made the righteousness* of God for us," himself "God blessed for ever," 1 Cor. i. 80 ; 2 Cor. v. 21 ; Rom. ix. 5. But whatever I have written, and whatever I have asserted, on this subject, whether I have written and asserted it with modesty, sobriety, judgment, and humility, must be left to the decision of such as are competent judges,
' This -word commonly means a previous and concise view of a subject, or an antici- pation of objections. In this treatise it means a natural or innate conception of divine justice. — Tb. [See note on page 517. — Ed.]
2 The -word in the original means either to claim and assert a right, or to punish the violation of it. By "vindicatory jixstice," then, we are to understand that perfection of the Deity which disposes him to vindicate his right by punishing its violators. It ought never to be translated vindictive, or understood as meaning revengeful. — Tb. [Though Dr Owen uses the expression, " My book of the Vindictive Justice of God," see vol. xii., " VindiciseEvangelicse," chap, xxx., he explains his meaning in different parts of his works: see vol. xi., " Saints' Perseverance," chap. vii. ; vol. xii., cliap. xxiii. ; and vol. ii., " On Communion with God," chap, iii., digression ii., p. 84. — Ed.]