SE c T. IX. Of Converfon, or Turningunto Gad. 407 foul might at laft bewail its fins, and turn unto God. Its true, thus far God doth not go withevery one, neither are all admitted untofuch favor, but many within the means of Grace, have their hearts thus continually beaten upon, andtheir confciences thus convinced and fmitten : And therefore filch who (hall yet retain theirnatural pravity and wickednefs when fo many remedies (hall be applyed, argue the greater ob(finacy,and judgement of Godupon them. Now toall this, there is one grand and main Objeftion; which is, If God Obje&, do thuswill and delight in the converfion of men , If thofe invitations are fe- rious, and Co pathetical, Why then doth not God change the hearts ofall ? why are not all converted ? why are any damned ? fw: To this there is a true Anfwer and a Falk Anfwer returned : TheLille Anfwer is by Arminian and others ; Therefore Come are converted and not others (fay they) becaufe fome do receive the grace of God offered, and not others i But this is co put all the gloryof mans converfion upon his own will; for why dotome receive the grace of God , and not others? Can any receive grace, without thehelpof grace? Muff there not be fupernaturallife breathed into a man, beforehe can ftretch out his band towards God ? befides, this oppofeth all thofe places of Scripture, which defcribe man dead in fin, and unable toany good ; and converfion is not the awakening of a manafleep, but the refer= reflion of one that is dead : Therefore the true answer is, that although God bath revealed his approving will thus, about the falvation of (inners yet the Scripture doch plainly limit his effettive will, to thofe that areelefted; not to all men, but tofome, Rom.9. there this que(lion is on purpofe handled, and the Apoffles conclufiòn is, On Whom he Will, he/beweth mercy, andwhomhe Will, he hardens And doth therefilenceall thofe cavils, that proud (inners may make even this very ObjeCtion he inffanceth in, Who bath refilledhis Will? So that you mutt compare one Scripture with another, and be lure to keep fobriety and humilityin this greatmyffery, not lanchingfurther into this Ocean, then the Scripture is a (tar toguide you in. Secondly, ThonghGodBoth thus will the falvationofantis, yet he is alfo a GodofSoveraignity,and Power: None mayprefcribe to him;he is of boundlefs Wifdom and Counfel, and nonecan fearch out or know the depths of God, but the fpirit of God. How many things doth the Scripture reveal, as objeéfs of faith, which cannot becomprehended by us; that are above all humane reafon, though not contrary to foundreafon ! OurSaviour bath taught us an excellent way to refolve thefe difpenfat ionsof God, Even fo Father, forfo it pleafeth thee, Mat.rr.As Ipfedixiemuttbe the ground offaith; fo Ipfevoluitofour fubmitfon. ore n Of inftru/lion, concerning theinexcufeablenefs of wicked men, Who yr r perifh in their fins Who may be blamedbut thy own felt? Althoughwe have it fromAdam; to layour fins off from our felves, yet thefe fig- leaves will not coverournakednefs; for to God thou cant} not impute thy Aline : O Ifrael, thy perdition is of thy felt, Hofea 13.9. Let noman fay, When he is tempted, that he is tempted of God, for he tempts no man, but every one is ledglide by the !úlis of hisown heart,james t. Oh thou ! that in this life time flattereft thy fell, thy fins mull notbe owned by thee, none mayput thee in minde of what thou art; when God (hall at the day of judgement, difcover all hidden things of dark- nefs, then it will bemanifeff, thou, even thy ownfell, haft undone thy fell: God bath done like a gracious, good, juft and merciful God, but thou haft been a cruel enemyunto thy ownfoul,ui voluntatemDeifpreverunt invitantem, volnntatem,Deifentient vindicantem, You faall findehis power in punifhmentsf who have defpifedhis grace and mercy in offers thereof, Assflin. Neither may youexcufe .your felves, by cutting your fins on Satan; for although' he be a Tempter, anddoth continually fuggeffcorrupt lofts unto thy heart; yet this is only by temptation, by fugge(tion; he doth notmake thee fin, whether thou wilt orno : Thou art Rubble, andthat makes theCparks of fire which come from hint
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