VER.19. Ephefian.r,Chap.r. 1St, the latter is true, for God cannot fee thefe things asexifting forth ofthe caufes from eternitieto eternitie,but they mutt havecoeternall exiftence withhim : hebath in eternitieallthings thus prefent, becaufe Gods in- divifible eternitie isbefore, in, and after all meafure of time ; but that he hath them prefent from eternitie to eternitie, is an unconceiveable abfurditie. If God doe not determine and apply the creature to will and worke 3 that which he worketh in the creature, then the creatureis the caufe why God worketh, and by confequent why he willeth this or that : but the creature isnot the caufe why God worketh and willeth. The firft part Is plaine, for Gods concourfe working this or that, mull ei- ther goe before theWill, and fo caufe it to will, elfe it muff follow, accomplifhing that which mans Will willeth. Now the fecond part Fame openly graunt, but it is molt abfurd, bothbccaufe it maketh God follow and caufe a kinde of tendance on mansWill, as allo by reafon itmaketh theWil ofman have acaufalforce onGodhimfelf.I4mes faith, Wee may not fay, Iwillgae to fuch aplace, wileffeGad will, This doctrine makcth God fay, I will worke Converfion, Faith, Repentance, in fuch aPerfon,if he will. If the liberty ofWill Hand in fuch a power free for exercife, then 4 Chrift had not liberty orfreedome ofwill: for God the Sonne owing it as a conjoyned inftrument to it felfe guidance in every thing, Mould it have failed in any circumftance of due obedience, God hitnfelfe fhould have beene guilty : Now Chrift had liberty, and fuch as isthe ground not onelyof working that which isgood andpraife-worthy, but that which was in fome fort meritorious. But we willnot profecute thefe points; which we fhall have occafion inother places to unfolde ; The truth is, that whether we looke at the preparation God maketh in fome, or at the faith it felfe, bothare wonderful!. What a power is that whichfhaketh the hearts ofthe moil fecure (inners t' It is a thongwinde which fhakethan Oake, but to bring a heart like theJaylorsto tremble, is a matterarguingamightypower. Againe, togive a hand or eye toone blindeand mayined were much ; but the handand eye offaith, great is the power by which they are reftored. Wherefore let us looke to himwho hath thus mightily brought us Vii r; to beleeve, that he would finifh our faith by the famepower; the fame power which maketh thefe things, conferveththem alto: happy is hee who cloth fee this power ready to confirme him inbeleeving, to the end. Wee fee how they are deceived, whomake God byhisgrace tocon- r a. vert us fo that he leaveth it in our power,whether weewill come to him by faith or no : As if Goddid lethisgrace forth,as Chapmen doe wares, which the Cuftomer maychoofe whether he will buy or no : But who can refift in that which Gods almighty power is put forth to worke Could his power be refilled, itwere not almightie. Laflly, we may fee hence how many perfons deceive themfeves, who thinke Faith but a matter of opinion; or imagination of things R abfent;
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