68 The Covenant of Wór.r. Chap. g. Neceflity of the concur- rence o f grace. fouldier vapours againfl his father. If ac`fs of grace make to differ and flop the mouth of all boaffing ; then it is grace that enables unto there Covenant- duties and engagements. Sixthly, This appears by the abfurdities that will follow upon denial of this Doctrine of the concurrence of grace in the work of mans falvation. 1. Man being left to the power ofhis own will , to anfwer to the termes of the Covenant ; fo that all (hall be fufpended accor- ding to mans improvement to will or nill to be active or idle, willing or difobedient ; then the event in all, even in the Eleft muff refl. doubtful ; when Chrift hath done all in the work of mans faivation , it might (notwithffanding all fuch work of his) fo fall out, that he had effected nothing. He might have been a Saviour , and not one man in the world hale been faved ; He might have been a Head, without any one member ; a Shepherd, and not a fheep in his flock; a Lord,and never a one to have done him any fervice. It might have fo fallen out, that he mig!: ne ver have been able to have faid to the Father; /, and the children rVi thou haft given me, &c. This is evident ; as force have irbftood, fo might others ; as the moll withfland , fo might all. Yea, it would have been no otherwife:lfGods Miniffers fhould go forth, and the hand of the Lord not with them to work men to beleeve, AFts 11.21 But this is full againft Gods Covenant with Chrift, which muff Eland firme and inviolably remain. He (hall fee his feed, he Gall prolong his dayes ; the pbafùre ofthe Lord "hall profiler in his hand; Ifa. 53. r o, 1 1. 7 here, fore it is of grace , that it may be fore; not of man, that it fhould be doubtful. 2. Then it will allo follow, the work of mans falvation begins in an ad, not in an habit; in forme bat that a man does refpe- dive to God , and not in any thing that God does in and upon man. The firfl beginning wotk will be afcribed to him that wills and runs, and not to him that thews mercy. But this is contrary to all Gofpel- Revelations,concerning the way of our change : 1 will circumcife thy heart , that thou /halt love the Lord with all thy heart, &c. Deut. 30 6. / will write my Law in their hearts and put it ints their inward parts, as Jer. 3 . 33. No man can come to me, except the Father draw him, John 6. 44. 1 will take away their hearts of !tones and give them hearts of flefh, Ezek. 36. 26. If man were alone in the work, or had the priority before any power in- fufed, there bad been none of thefe undertakings. 3. This
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