S a c T. XI. GadsStatutes, andkeeping hispudgements. 573 We might as well fay ,Its not ofhim that j ewethmercy;but ofhim that Wilethor run- neth. So that this bodkin robs God ofall thathonourand glory that is due to him both in theprayers and praifesofhispeople. For how will the Patrons of Natures Free-will deport themfelvesin this Duty? Mufì they not ineffeitcome to this ? Lord, I pray thee mollifie and (often my heart, if I will. Again, Lord I praife thee;that thou gaveft me an heart to repent, when I contented and was willing ; And is not all this highly derogatory to Gods glory ? This made pro- found IIradwardine encourage himfelf to write againft Pelagiur, becaufe he could heartily pray for thegraceof Cofto help him in that work, whereashis adeerfaries could not do fo. Lally, If to be that thewill and powerof man, did make grace effectual to 4. us, fo that Gods grace thou Idnot take away our Itonineffe,-till we contented, Then thegreateft glory of mans Convey-lion Would belong to him : For we may fup- pole God offeringgrace equally to the fame men ; They both, his in the fame Family, bóth under the fame Miniftery. Now what is the caufewhy one recei- veth theWord, andnot the other? Shallwe fay, becaufe he by his free-will entertained the grace of God, and notthe other? What derogation would this be toGods glory ? Dolls not the Apoftlefay, Who bathmade thee re differ frOM, anárher ? s Cor.ç7. Why was Peter converted, and.not 7udas.? Thgy both enjoyed the fame means, they both law the fame wonderful miracles: Shall any man fay, Becaufe Peter ufed his free-will well, and not 7sodas? This were to make Peter no more beholding to Chrift then {udar was. Oh a gracious heart knoweth not how todigeft fucfiprefumptuousOpinions !God made me to differ . from others, By thegrace ofGod! amWhat Iam. So then, have all thefe argu- ments inyour eyes, they areplain and eafie; and then thougherrorbe never fo fubtillypainted, yet itwill not make you inamonred with ir, efpecially if,to all thefeplaces of Scripture, thoucant let to thy own experience of Gods won- derful change uponthee. Art not thou ableto fay, That though ten thoufand teachers fhouldcome and preach free will,yet thine ownexperience in thy Con- verfion will make thee not believe ir, for thou wertfo faire from contenting or agreeingto thework of grace, that all thy fhifts and care was how to put off the workof God ? How often didft thou labour to blinde thy own eyes, to har- den thy own heart, bow unwilling'to beconvinced, howforty to part with thy dear lots, how often didfl thou put off and defer,. laying, Yet a little more and hill a little more, that hadnot God by hismighty power opened thy heart; made theeofunwilling willing, to this very day thouhadt Rill been wallowing in thy blond Ojo of Inftruffion. Concerning a three-fold duty : s. Ofdeep debafement ofe andhumiliation, Howvain, weak andunprofitable arewe become? Of rich to become,p000r, ofhonourable to become debated, is nothing to this ;.of holy and altogether holy, to becomealtogether finful : Oh whydoth not this wound thee? Is there any roomleft for pride, carnal jollity, and confidence, while in this pollutedelate ? z. Of daily thagkfulneffe to God,who bath put forth his great power on thee; Oh call uponthy foul, and all within thee,to fpeak for theglace ofGod. 3. Here is encouragement to pray to God forthe fubduingofany thong cor euptionsorpaffìons : He that did the greater,take away the heart ofloneatfirt, cannot he do the leffe ? bddd 3 Sá ALtÒ2!
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