Of PredeVinátion. 39 The feventh Criminationa CC C. * But fame of themfay, that theGofpel itfelf,ÿeá and thefirflípecial ca toáei/a°4aDei tq u tt Grace, is givento men upon merit of congruity, though not of condignity, to. ratn tes negarent °mne Ct andfo isdecreedon that forefeen. merttnm sanfam ea. °sea- fionem ex nobisprede/tina- B,I. We mind not what fome odd perfons fay, but what the moderate rim n°firæ,n! oa,nderent and fober fay, whom we are reconciling. 2. But I pray you wherein grariam in temPore omnin° do you differ from there ? Is it in words, or fenfealfo. jar atVaf hmum e Habit d°nar:, Vafq. m r. CC C. Inboth : Iholdnofuch merit, fore-light, or decree. Tho.qu.e.3 difp.gt.c.ro. B. Do youhold that there is fuch a thing as common Grace, diftin& from fpecial ? "C. res: fo doall Proteflants. B. Is it not everymans Duty tomake a goodufeofthe common Grace or Mercies which he bath, as inorder to his Repentance and Salva- tion ? " C. re, : Hethat hadbut one Talentfhouldhave improvedit. B. Is not aman that doth this as far as common Grace will go, more difpofed and prepared toreceive fpecial Grace, than one that bath long abided it, andderideth God andgodlinefs ? "C. res, no doubt fomefuch arenot far from the Kingdomof God. B. Have not *Mr. Jo. Rogers, Mr. Tho Hooker, Mr. Rob. Bolton, t and *Doti. ofFaith. abundanceof other Proteftants writtenmuch ofPreparation to Converj- f Itfc. .for Comfort. conic. on ? And is it not ourcommon Do&rine ? Read Va%q. in s.Tho. qu. Ct C. Tes : but what's that toMerit of Congruity s3. a.4. di¡p. q. through- f ng y ? out, provingthatPrrede- B.. What do you think they meanby it more than you by Prepara- lunation to the grit Lion? Grace is not upon fore- feen Merit, nonorupon tt C. TheymeanfuchMerit as it is decentfor God to reward. any fore-feen Caufe gne B. The greater part, I think, by farof theSchool-men fay, That the qua non, no nor Conditi- firft fpecial Grace is notgiven upon anyMerit at all. And the learned aga ac qua oso, and thè and fober that thus talkof Merit of Congruityand Decency, mean no maßptieafes , and the morebut this, I. That Godwho commandeth men fuch ufeofhis com- mon Grace, as a means to fpecial, doth command no Duty, and appoint pradeláinaçionis is not no means in vain. 2. That fuch prepared perfons are fitter for fpecial from oo r re will a Ye. , Grace than the unprepared, and malignant Enemiesof it. 3. That it is Grabriei, Cajet. Richard. Gods úfual way toprepare men by commonGrace, before he give them Durand. ranrn¡. s«. as fpecial Grace. q.. And many faythat we cannot prove that God ufeth to MPiien/eorea, andtall deny fpecialGrace, where he giveth the higheft, degree ofpreparing that holden that fact ti common Grace. And whichof there are you againft ? nature, Deusnon denegat 'C C. But dóth not God givefpecial Grace alfo without fuch prepara- graham. `t tion? B. I. OurforefaidpraEtical Proteflants feemtó think not (to menat age.) For they oft fay, that it cannot be conceived that a man can value Grace, and cometo Chrift truly, that bath no preparatory fenfe of fin and mifery. 2. ButI findnot thatthe Papsufually deny it, but - that God may give fpecial Grace to theunprepared on a fudden. 3. But Papsand Prótes7ants are agreed that this is not his ordinary way. And wheredowediffer in all this? " C. But wefay not that there is anyMerit in allthis. B. Phy on that word Merit ! I thought it was but the name that we differed about. I. Andmany of themfelves diflike the name, and fay, It is unapt. And I think fodo the Lutherans and Arminians more corn nzonly. 2. And others fay, that by Merit they mean nothing but a_ moral
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