Original Douay–Rheims AnnotationsEzekiel 18

Is the death of a sinner my will?

^[1] In many places of holy Scripture ^[2] it is clear, that God's will is most assuredly fulfilled in all things, whatsoever he would: and none can resist his will, &c. Nevertheless here, and in other places it is also expressly affirmeth, that God would have all sinners to repent, and none to die in their sins; which seemeth to repugn with the former doctrine. For solution of which difficulty, S. Damascene, li. 2. c. 29. de Orthodoxa fide, and other Doctors distinguish God's will, which is either called Antecedent, and conditional; and so God would have all men to be saved, as appeareth by creating all to that end, by his frequent admonitions, precepts, threats, temporal punishments, and rewards, and especially by our Saviour's death, and redemption of all mankind, whereby he merited most sufficient means, and offereth his sufficient grace to every one, that they may be saved if they will. Otherwise God's will is called Consequent and absolute; and so for justice sake his divine will is, that impenitent sinners shall be damned, and eternally punished for their sins. ^[3] As a just Judge conditionally and antecedently would have all men to observe good laws, and to live so long as they can by nature; but absolutely and consequently finding some to be murderers, or otherwise pernicious to the commonwealth, he punisheth them with death.

• 1 Though God conditionally would have all men to be saved: yet many are justly damned.
• 2 Psa. 113. v. 11. Rom. 9. v. 19. Ezec. 33. v. 11. 1. Tim. 2. v. 4. 2. Pet. 3. v. 9. S. Tho. p. 1. q. 19. a. 6.
• 3 A just Judge would condemn no man, yet condemneth murderers, thieves, &c.