Of mredellination. 113 and adopt, is a fore-feen Believer. 4. The Object of Gods Will, to givefpecial Grace, which than effectually caufe men to repent and be- lieve, is ordinarily afore-feendifpofed Sinner prepared by his common Grace ; but fometimes anunprepared Sinner, whom, ofhis free will, he will fuddenly convert, as it pleafeth him freely todiftribute hisbenefits ( all beingunworthy.) 5. The Objectof Gods Will, to give the high- eft degreesof commonGrace, external ( in thepureft preaching ofthe Gofpel, and other mercies, ) and internal ( in greater helps of the Spi- rit ) is fometimes a Sinner inde cognito, who hath not grofly rejected lower helps, and fometimes freely the worfer fort ofSinners , who have abufed former mercies. Ej, The Object of Gods Will, to give the firlt common mercywhich hath a tendency in its ufeto mens reco- very andSalvation, is all mankind fallen in Adam : For all are under the New Covenant of Gracemade with Adam, Gen. 3. 15. in fomede- gree, (and withNoah) and all have much mercy tending to Repentance; and none are left as the Devilsin difpair, without any offered remedy or help. 7. The Object of Gods Will to give man the Covenant of Innocency, was Adamfore-feen as meer man. 8. The Object ofGods Will to create man, was nothing inthe fenfe that we now take an objeît in ; that is, for the materia circaguano. Butifyouwill call the intended effa the objetl, then the Object of Gods Will here (and in the reft) is Manknoweth by Re- the thing willed. But ifyou will needs prefume to Peek one higher in cepc on, ana to ha n the Mind of God, * you mutt fay that it was man as conceived ft tobe, laeas: Banand can be as wellas po ble. For we can think no otherwife of the Divine Con no Recipient. ceptions and Volition% butas weare led by theanalogy of humane ads. And fo we muff fay, that s. GodsPower maketh it potfble for á1I things to be. 2. Next God knoweth them ppffible. . 3. He knoweth what is convenient or fit tobe made, to hisunfearchable ends. 4.. He willeth that they fhall be, and man among the. rett, and fo on. Ifyou will needs havethe order ofDecrees, this is all that wecan fayof them. A. All this pleafethus well : but it will not pleafe your ownParty, or the Calvinifis; that youmake fomany ads ofElection,which they tell you is butone entire thing,asmentioned in Scripture : Noryet that you lay every Decree or Will upon fore-fight. B. You are miftaken : Nomoderate confiderateman ofthem will de- ny any thing that I have laid. For s. As to theScripture ufeof the Word Eleflion, it is not the meer name thatwe are nowopening, but the matter in queftion : Nor is it the expounding of particular Texts that I amupon: And ifI were, no manwill deny but that the word Elefion is varioufly ufed inthe Scripture : Sometime for Gods eternal Will to makeus Chritlians oflnfidels,and to faveùs.by Chrift; and fometime for actual choofuag -:us by converting Grace .in time; and fometime for aFl_ual choofaug; men in timebyVocation to fome office orfpecial work, ;cr 2. And as to the diftinguithing of all thefe Volitions ofGod, no man will deny the effefs to be diftinct ; undoubtedly thefe arevarious effects of God ; r. To make man. 2. To give him the Covenant of Innocency. 3. To give him the Covenant of Grace , with all the common mercies of it. ç. To give fome Perlons and Nations the Gofpel, andother mercies above thegreateft part of the World, with atufwerable helps of the Spirit. 5. Togive men fpecial Grace, effectual for Faith and Repentance. 6. To give men Pardon, Adoption, and Sanctification. 7. To give. men Perfeverance. 8. To give them Glory. And if there are various works, either you will diftinguifh of
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