I72 OfSufficient andElecana! Grace. 'eMans ignorance ofthe way of Gods operation on fecond caufes,toldus by Chrift himfelf, fob.3. Shouldend inch quarrels and teach us all with ju- dicious Davenantto pro- fefs uncertainty; and with judiciousfof. Pla- tens de lib. arb. p. 174. (fpeaking ofthedepen- dance of the fecund caufe on the firft, and the Papifts digladiations about concurfe andpre- determination) to fay, Notquid, m quareverentiia erga tnfinitam Dei maje- liatem ducimur, non wide- onusdefinire quantaftt de- pendentia caufe fecunda a prima: Nubiafa/Jtcit,modo ne Dea ullam peceatarum nofirorumvel minimaos la- bem afpergat, non poile ni- miam gavot. To which allo the very judicious Le Blank fubfcribeth, Thel. 51. de concur/n, áße. The Remonftrants Syn. 'a+' 3, 4. p. t 5. &c. do profefs that Gods ope- ration ofthe latelleí1,4f- fettian, and Will, do thus differ, that the convert- ingwork on the will is more refifiible than the other. And to the queftion, An canverfio contingentfir et in certa, an vero necegita- te caufe au: eventus inlal- tibiliter fequatur in eo qui convertitur , Refloat:- dent, converfionem elfe can- tingentemquidLiberaeft: net tarnen Deo incertain, quiapracognita e/1; nec fequi necegitate task. five coafequentts, quia re/i/lere petera: home; fed neeep. tate confequentta, &c. Et peg. 17. Declarar. (.ware dictmua bominis aaluntatem ad vole: dam temen non nece tari, fed hominempaffe ref/lere, bot eft, non-melle, es lape attu non-male et reumere gra- tin fafficientia aperatiani- but. cline to withscotme, and fuppofe that the Ìntellel moveth not the will per modemneeturæ, by neceffitation. But while we know not the order and natureof theoperations of our ownfouls , how (hallwe know the unfearchableway of the operationsof theHoly Ghoft. The feventh Crimination. C. "They make Gods Grace a reffiible thing, which man can frufirate g G6 and fo Godworkethat uncertainties. B. I havefaid fo muchof this before , that I need not tire you with much more. R_uefi. 1. Doyou knowofno way for God to worlkvith certaintyof fuccefs, ifGrace be refiftible. C. " I will notfay fo : I know what you have faid to thisbefore. B. Why then do you fpeak that which is notvalid in yourown judg- ment? Jues1. 2. Dare you undertake to juftife all the world against the accufation, of having refitted the Grace of God. C. " Nog Idifpute not on finchhard terms. B. Audi. 3. Did you never repent your felf for refitting Grace? C. " Tee, in fumefnfe 5 but not as Inow mean it. B. How is that ? C. " To ref fl the Gofpel and Mini.firy is a refilling of Grace, and theSo- "lyGhoft, Avis 7. and fo I have done. But I(peak of immediate:reffi- " ing God. B. 1. Rememberthat here you confers that the Gofpelis Grace, even to them that refill it. a: God himfelf cannot be refitted immediately, whereheworketh not immediately. 3. But, where he Both fo, he is (aid to be refitted ,; 1. Notby any repelling of his ftrength. 2. Much Iefs by oppofing a greater ftrength. 3. Nor by a `stingby any ítrength but what he giveth. 4. Not by caufing any difficulty tohim. 5. Not byfru- ftrating anyabfolute will ofhis : But 1. PaJvely, by being ill difpofed to the receptionofthat Grace which he offereth , and that operation which elfemight effel it. 2. And aéiively, by doing that which render- eth us yet more ill-difpofed both naturally and morally by commerit. 3. As alto in that we do that which is contrary to Godsa&ions in their tendency to the effect. When he moveth us to hear, read, meditate, pray, love, trust, &c. andwe do the contrary; thismaybe called a refr- ftance. C. " If God intend the efetl, it will be done : but ifhe intend it not, " how is he redlied in that whichhe never intendedto do ? B. You know the Scripture fpeaketh not at there rates 3 but when men will fet their filly wits against Gods Word , thus they will feem fub- tiler than he : ¡But ir's but a dream- r. God may be refilled when he intendeth not the effect : in that his Law is refitted, and with it that ne- ceffary meafure of Grace, by whichthe effe&might have beenwrought, Though hisDecree benot refitted, yet his Law andhis Grace and help (which hati a tendency to theeffe&, and a fufficiency on its part) may be refitted. a. And he is ordinarily refilled in that which hedoth both intend anddo : For he Celdom doth us any good without refiflance,- though heovercome. But he that overcometh refiftance is refitted. C. " But Imean by Refitting, Overcoming. B. Why then did you not fpeakas you meant. None dreameth that Omnipotence is overcome by a greater strength; much lefs by the deri- ved
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=