,142 A CALL TO would be no longer truths than we are able to see them in their perfect 01'der and coherence: because our ravelled wits cannot see them right together, nor assign each truth its proper place, we presume to conclude that some must be cast away. This is the fruit of proud self-conceitedness, when men receive 'not God's truth as a child his lesson, in holy submission to the omniseience of our Teacher, but censurers, that are too wise to learn. Object. But we cannot convert ourselves till God convert us; we can do nothing without his grace; it is not in him that willeth, nor in him that- runneth, but in God that showeth mercy. •flnsw. 1. God bath two degrees of mercy to show; the mercy of conversion first, and the mercy of salvation last; the latter he will give to none but those that will and run, and hath promised it to them only. The former is to make them willing that are unwilling; and though your own willingnes~ and endeavours deserve not his grace, yet your wilful refusal deserveth that it should be denied to you. Your disability is yom very unwillingness itself, which excuseth not your sin, but maketh it the greater. You could turn if you were but truly willing; and if your wills themselves are so corrupted, that nothing but effectual grace will move them, you have the more cause to seek for that grace, and yield to it, and do what you can in the use of means, and not neglect it, and set against it. Do what you are able first, and then complain of God for denying you grace, if you have cause. Oqject. But you seem to intimate all this while that man hath free-will. Jlnsw. 1. The dispute about free-·will is beyond your capacity; I shall therefore now trouble you with no more but this about it. Your will is naturally a free, that is, a self-determining faculty; but it is viciously inclined, and backward to do good: and therefore we see, by sad experience, that it bath not a virt!lous moral freedom; but that it is the wickedne~~
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