134 OfSufficient and Eec`fuaZ Grace. tobetterA&ions, and fo toSalvation, by that good that isin them. He that in meer love tohisownSoul, will pray, hear, meditate, avoid fin, &c. is in a likelier way to Grace and Life, than hethat will do none of this. And 2. The Authors of the Article , by merit ofcongruity , meant foméwhat more than preparation for Converfion For no Englifh Di vines, I think, have denied that. 3 And by LWorks done] theymeantfuch as the Pap0s taught men too much to traft in, as givingAlms, buildingHofpitals, going on Pil- grimages, &c. which went under the notion of Sacrifices and Oblati- onsunder the old Law, whenGod Paid, He abhor'd thesacrificeof the Wicked, and bid them be readier to hear , than to offer the sacrifice of, Fools. But it is not, I think, Soul-humbling Repentance, Confefïion, begging for Grace, confidering their Ways, hearing the Word , &c. though but fuch as preparatory Grace may do, which they meant by Works. 4. And that is not donewithout Grace and the Spirit ofChrift, which is donebut byhis commonGrace; Andyet I couldwith theArticlehad . beenbetter worded. But if you will fee the confent ofan hundred and twentyancient Writers, and fixty three Proteftant Synods, Churches and Divines, for Univerfal Grace, read Dallxi, Apolog. part. 4. A. "Iamfare Godfaith, That he would not thedeath ofa Sinner, but " rather that he repent and live, and that he would have all men to be "faved, and come tothe knowledge of theTruth, which theydeny. B. No man denieth it, who denieth not the Scripture. And I can hardly believe that really youu differ about the meaning of the words. Wires. t. Do you believe that God is abfolutely unwilling that any perith? and abfolutely willeth that all (ball be faved ? A. "No : but conditionally he is. B. weft. 2. Do you think that he abfolutely willeth the performance of that condition ? A. "Iknow you will fay, If abfolutely, it mull come to pats, or God "muff be overcome. If conditionally, how doth he will that condition? " and fo in infinitum? But I willfay, that he willeth it abfolutely, andyet is not overcome orfruirate by a greater Power. For he willeth it only " voluntate inefficaci, or with avelleity, which is not awilling to do it all " himfelf, but that itbe done by man. B. Ifhe will that man fepent eventually, with an abfolute Will, the Impenitent then fruftrate his Will or Defire. And it is a note of infeli- city tohave abfolute Defires . not obtained : If Gods Will be not done, is it not for want ofPower or Wifdom to accomplifh it ? A. "No : it is becaufe he willeth not toeffet the thing, but that man c c of fet it. B. Ifyou hadfaid, thathe conditionally willeth that man effeec it, the failure had been no fruttration : But that had beenbut to fay, that he willeth that man (hall will if he will or at leaft, ifhe excite his own Will ; and fo the queftionwould recur, How he willeth that excitation. But feeingyou fay, that God abfolutely willeth that man (hall will or excite hisown Will, you mutt needsmeanthat God defireth that which he cannot obtain, and fo is imperfeli ? A. " No: I only fay, that he defireth that which he cannot obtain by "mans free agency, without exerting more of his own efficient power to
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