William Fen er,Re net of Rockford , d fellow of Pernbroote Hell JAM.:. j 640,.
T WORKS /. CF The Learned and Faithful Miniher of Gods Woi d, Mr. WILLIAM FENNER, Sometime Fellow of Pembroke -Hall in Cam bridg, and Rector of Rochford in E ffcx, In Four Treatifes, t Wilfull Impenitency, 1z. VIZ. Of Confcience, i 3 0 f the eil fettions, 14Chrifis Alarm to dro ße Saints. Finifhed by Himfelf, and Publifhed by his Over - Peers. To which is annexed His CATECHISM C R E E D, On the LORD'S PRAYER, and X. COMMANDMENTS. LONDON, Printed by T. Maxey, for john Rothwell at the fign of the Sun and Fountain in Pods Church -yard. 1651
/ AAAA AA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA:A9A *34* 34***734:474****3***3-2- BOOkjPrinted for JOHN ROTHWELL Stationer, at the fgne of the Sun and Foun- tain in P A u L 's Church yard. Mr. Churche's Mifcellanies on the {Attributes of God. ZCreatures of God. Spiritual! mans Aim Chriftians Charter Dr. Sibbs Miracle, Or Incarnation of Chrift Glance of Heaven, Glorious Feaft of the Gofpel. o Dr Stoughton's Sermons. Of Afflic9'ion Mr Hewes <Funerall Sermon Parliament Sermon. Prodigies of Germany. Mr 7erem. `).* {Tower Right receiving of Chrift: Dr Twiffe on the Sabboth. o. Mr Shepheard On the Sabboth Select Cafes, with a Catechifm. Dr Seaman Smetlymnuus, z and 2 Part. Solomon's Choice Head of the Church Of Ordination ofMinifters Glaffe for the times. Mr Fènnei-
Wilful] Impenitency Of Confcience Mr Fenner Of Affeá}ions Alarm for drowfie Saints. Catechifm. Mr Dales íhepherdizing of Lambs. z Card's Works 3 Part. 4 Mr Hooker's Sermons, {New- Englands Tears, New-Englands Senfe. Mr Howes Of Univerfall Redemption. Dr Drake Med. De Sanguine, Bridges Babylon's Downfall ' Cafes, Dr Ames . Marrow of Divinity,> Engli fh. On Peter. -Orthodox Paradoxes, Mr Venicgs New Command, Myfteries. Mr Roborough , Cleering Juftification againft Mr 7o. Good - win. Republifhed by 7. R. Mr Cotton Of tinging of Pfalms. Mr Pym's Speech. Mr Vicars Chronicle. Thefaurus Poeticte. Mr Haines Grammer. Mr Mathers's Catechifm. Mr Craven's Catechifm.
WILFULL IMPENITENCY The Grojjefi SELF MURDER. All they who are" guilty of it , ap- prehended, tryed and condemned in diele SERMON S. PREACHED At 1R och ford in E9x, by that able, faithfull, and laborious Minifter of J E s u s CHRIST, Mr WILLIAM FENNER R.D. not long before his death. Mule Publick By one of his unworthy Fellow - Labourers. Paov.t.z4,zç,z6. Becauferhave called, and ye have rcfufed, rhave ¡b etched out my hand, and no man regarded : But ye have fet at nought all my coup fell, and would none of my reproof, r will elfo laugh at your calamity, and mockwhen your fear cometh. JOHN ç.40,41. And ye will not come to me that ye might have life. 1 am come in my Fathers î iame,and ye receive me not; if another fhall come in his own name, him you will receive. Velle meum Domino mifericordiæ tale eft de redeundo ad te,quale e (} Velle tuum de mea ad te reverfione. Gul. Par i f de Rhet. Div.c. r 4. Quid agit liberum arbitrium? Breviter refpondeo, falvatur. Bern. de Lib. Arb. o' Gr. Non velle in caufa eft, non polie prætenditur. Sen. LONDON, Printed by r. M. for f ohn Rothwell at the f;gn of the Sun and Fountain in Pauls Churchyard. 1651.
y.....-- , a a, a M + , r. a d a s et, M a _ÿ"Ibe) aIs fá ÿszY?ÿ z To the right Honourable ROBERT RICH BARON of Lees in Efiex, and EARL of Warwick, Abundance of Spirituall bleífings in f efttt Chrift. ,'íul being upon a prophetical! wing (for the Lord had poured upon him, not uneÿ an Apoflolicall, but arnK know Prophetical! fpirit) doth foretell 40 fai h in the z.Tim.3. i . That in the WI days peri- the infa!ii- ble certain- bus times Jhall come ; thofe who are full of ofit. carnall fe1 f -love and unthankfulnefs, will much increaJè the danger of this Taft age of the world (the Lord root up all filch weeds out of out hearts.) God bath; I hope,given Your Honour fuch a meafure of love to the Publick, and fo aelive a fpirit to doe good to others, as will help to Ter- fen the danger of thefe evil! times. And I would be fo thankful! for favours received, * a that
Pro. 30.10 I 1,1 2,éCC. The Epiflle Dedicator y. that I might be ranked among this d ho- nourable Catalogue which here Paul fums up, of fuck as make bad times Ivorfe. It is your Honours bappin f and advantage (as it was once laid of the Duke of Guile in France, that he did put obligations upon all) that you can engage (very many ; and amongft the reft, I mull ever acknowledg my /elf one, who in one of the greatefl turnings of my life, by the good hand of God upon me in your free confent and Noble bounty, have had fo much comfort in the nearefi and dearefl relation, that I never envied any other, but find matter of everlafling pra fes to God for hisgoodnefs to'mÿ fel f therein. And being under fo great obli- gations, when I can produce nothing of my own worthy your acceptance; I take leave to of the part of a Midwife to this happy fBirth,w ='I may call your Honour Father, as will appear by the following Letter, that it was ultimately intended for your jiirituall advantage; and it were now a kind of facriledg to keep that ho- ly fue from you, that is fo much your own. It joyes the fouls of me and many more of your praying fervants, that they have fo much
The le V eclicatory. much occa f on to pra fe their God on your bahal f, for fo many able and faithfull Miners of the Gojell of the firf1, f cond, and third mag- nitude, that your prudent, fatherly care hath fixed, where you as Patron, have been tru fled. Oh the many Chariots and Horfemen of If- rael, that your Noble Father and you have brought triumphantly into Effex (herein you did happily Patrizare) the Lord continue the like care to build and repair his NO in thole who fur - vive you, from Generation to Generation, that fo your Hopfe may ftill be honourably fupported. Ecclefaflicall Story fpeaks of one Henricus Auceps, when he did fight againf} the Hunga- rians, made this vow to God That if the Lord would give him viEtory againfl his Enemy, he would purge his Country from Symony, which at that time mightily abounded therein. We want men of fuch an heroical! Zealous diiofìti- i on in England. Oh that all Patrons were more mindful! of their high tru(h then they would not fo often betray the fòuls of people by putting off a friend, &c.with a Living to force unworthy Chap- aKi. t;,t4 Vide Simp. fon. Eccle/ Hifi. lib.;. Cent. io.
The EpVle Dedicatory. Chaplain. Doubtles,ther is many a damn'd crea- ture roaring in Hell, curfing covetous Patrons,as well as unfaithful) Paftors For whole Blood c ret. .;. (in part at leaf)) they muff be accountable to Note. the Father of fpirits and Iudg of the quick and the *There arc dead. ./i moft heavy reckoning,when the fins o f fo great of many Congregations to which Patrons are acceffary rearea- d ) ding, who nil under- by fending ignorant and fcandalousners a- take to mole fl them, are made theirs ; whereas the 'call make it ap- pea of their own fins unrepented of will finke them r , that as Heathc- eternally. nillt feafts, Bzccn4ua - _ God who is faithful,wil not forget your labour and to s, coil of love to the truly Reverend man of God tttrWZlia , &c. were Mr.H turned in- ooker(who is now f Waing Halelujahs in hea- fuiraac and o- venly Man/ions) when he was perfecuted by the la t her foils, *Archi ( lamen of Cant. He witpay abundantly for hoping thereby to p P Rin, g rote and nut ang his children,Heb.6. z o. rheas to win ma- I know not how better to expreffemy deep ere Ar- ift i Co fen( of your moll real favour (the comfort we whereof I daily unjo ) then by taking the Jta y & Flzraá- humble boldnels to befeech your Honor to Wcschang d into,r h- add one thing more, which indeed is the u- prelate and prelats,out num neceffarium,wherby you wil gain that better ` fond which jhall not be taken from you intengo. namely, that van x- l. .1- -- ] , that you may L,to, {à walk
The .Eple Dedicatory. walk in the light és- heat of that glorious Gofpel con flellation (for Miniícers are Stars,and the* An- gels of the Churches) which you have endeavo- red to fix in Your Orb. Your Honor hath been often at Sea, and there beholding the . won- ders of God in the deep, have been taught to wreflle with him for mercy. It is an old Paying, He that would learn to pray ,let him go tofea. Befiege hea- ven with your unwearied importunities that the Ark of the Gofpel,which you have pro- vided for thoufands, may beyour own everlafling SanEtuary. And that you feafting upon their dainties, may be fat and flouri Thing in your lafl dayes; !landing fledfafl in theft fhaking times, and immovable,keeping faith and a good conJcience, (which too many having put away, concerning faith, have made Phi rack) more and more a- bounding in the work of the Lord, forafmuch as you know your labour is not in vain in the Lord. This, through the grace of Chrit, (hall be the earnefFprayer of him who is (My Lord) Your Honour's moff. obliged Servant, THOMAS HILL. Rev.' . zo. &z.t. * So ac- knowled- ed by che Tt'aníl.t- tors in the contents of Revel. z. They, it feems, did not think thefe An- gels co be Prelates. vi ?wren orare, dif cat vaviga- re. Jon. t. 5 Phis 2.9,14 t Cot. ts. lri.
inillint-8-813;1134 To the Right Wor/hipful My much Honoured Friend, St NATHANIEL RICH. Have been often thinking what to fendyou ; at laß this Theme which I have lately treated ofin the Pulpit came into my min: It's of infinite ufe and nece tie, and a Truth little examined, confsdered, or laid to heart yet marvellous neceffary for humiliation to all the children of God, and of great weight for the making the world guilty be- fore God. I had thought to have fens it to my Lord of War- wick for his Jubcifive hours : and if you judg it profitable, af- ter your perufall of it, to commit it unto him from mee, you /hall do well. I am ferry to hear of Each ìt Worthy's felZnefs or weale z Ki. I3.14 nefs : Now Elifha the man of God was fallen lick : the very words are able to fpriks thorow. The Lord lendyon health,and ßrength,and peace,and comfort,and joy : It is not enely matter of courtelle to pray for fach as you are, but of debt ; and our ne- cellities and duties call for it, and mine more ef]ecially. The Lor4be mercifull to me, and to many in raifingyou up, and make you plenus dierum, and ferus in coelum redire : That's all the hurt that I wifhyou ; and fo I commendyou to the word of his power that is able to keep you, and reß Yours in the Lord J E S U S, WILLIAM FENNER.
1- To the Chri íhian Reader, who de- fireth to hold fait the form of found words in faith and love,. which is in Chri1i Jc us, and to advance Free. Grace above Free will. r sf sf Op admirably wife and fatherly hath . üLe eS Ce ÑT been the Lords care of his Churches .13 M El' in all ages ; and when there were falfe Vo I PS Prophets under the old Teftament, the Lord had his Jereiniahs to confute them, whom he made a defenced City, an Iron pillar, and brazen wals againft all oppofition.When the Dived furred up Hymeneus, Philetus, and others, to un- dermine the'truths of the Gofpel in the times of the new Teftament., The Lord raifedand accomplifhed his Paths to confound them alfo. You (hall find when the Churches of Chrift are in a wildernefe condition, and the Serpent cafts out of his mouth waters as a foond after the woman; that is, multitudes of unfound and Hereticall opinions, the earth hel- ped the woman, and opened her mouth, and fwal lowed the floud which the Dragon call out of his mouth : that is, Jefus Chrift had tho fe here that did encounter and overthrow all falfe DoCtrine,svith which the Divell by his agents endeavoured to poy f on and defiroy the Churches. Betides the four generali Councells, namely , that of Nice , when Arius a Presbyter of Alexandria denying that the Son of God Jer.z.t;8. z Tim.i.so. Rev. z a. 15. z6. See learned Mr. Mead his excellentBook on the place.
r About A.D. 330. under Conftantine the great, vira. z About A.D. 383. under Thcodofaut. About A.D. 490. under Theodofiut the fecond , not .3107-4 6}, -, but xts-6164)-. About A. D. 456. under Martianut, Calcedon. Cent,4. Cent. S. To the Chriftian Reader. God was confubflantiall with the Father, and that there was a time when he was not, was confuted,and truth obtained a victory there, God flirring up many learned men to oppofe him. And in the fecond, that of Conftantinople, when there was a M aced onius who called the Holy Ghofl a creature, many were able by the power of truth to con- found him. And the third, when a Nefforius, who denyed that the Virgin Mary could be called the mother of God, providence ordered it f ò, that then a Councell of learned Bithops and Elders at Ephefus /hould bla(l that opinion. And when an Eutiches (who in a different may from Neftorius, who denyed the per -' fmall Union of two Natures in Chrift) would have the immenfity of the Divine nature in Chrift, that there was only the Divine nature in him, another Councell at Calced on overthrew him. God had variety of champions to contefí with the moll fubtill andprevailing adverfaries, from hand to hand;particularly when there was Manes and Ma- nichæi , who rejelled the old Teflament, and affir- med that man fell not by voluntary defection, but of nece stay, becaufe mans body was made of theprince his (wherewith Auftin was leavened before converfaon,) The Lord had Chryfoftome and o- thers to hinder the fpreading andprevailing of it. When there was ,an Arrius, who denied the Divi- nity of Chrift, there fhould be an Athanafius raifed to overthrow. him. When a,Macedonius to weft the holy Gholl,then it Bafizto break him. When
To the Chriftian iteader. When a Pelagius to advance Free-will into the Throne of Free-grace,tbenGod would raife up anAu- ftine, (that great light of the Church in his time)to depofe that, to reflore this to its crown dignity. This Pelagius wets born in Britain the fame day thatAuftin in Affrick;he was the it'll. prefuriiptuous Advancer of the pride of Free -will. "Yee did not thinke the grace of God to be neceffary for the helping ,of Free -will for good things in every act. This was condemned in the Councell o Carthage, wherein indeed to fave bimfelf he did equivocate in the word grace, acknowledging a na- turall, an exciting, and after_converfion an airli- fting grace. This Doctrine was likervife .condem- ned in the Synod of Paleftna z zoo years ago, and therein Arminianifm kild before it was born, by the flrength of that place, Tittr.z.9 This Pelagiushad his Scholers, Julianus and Ç. - leftinus ; efus Chrift would not then leave Au- {tin without fome Difciples to conflict with thofe (as Chryfoftome had his Oecumenius, and Theophi- 1aa his Pediffequi, his followers) fò was there a Profper, and Hilary Arelatenfis to encounter the old Mafsilians, and Semipelagians in France.. And when there was a Fauftus Regienfis (a mo ft fubtilladverfary) a Pif hop who did clofey de- fend Pelagianifin in two Books of Free -will The Church Mould have a Fulgentius, and Pettus Dia- conus,& others to oppofe him.Tea,fintence+was then given againffPealgius andSemi - pelagians, in the councel of Orange. In the general.,tbat their opini- ons touching free -wil dr. free- grace,were not agreea- hie to the Catholick faith. A z Fur- Dempflertu ex Wal ida refert codera die ;quo iUe in Anglia nano, tenebrae errorum tori mundo ef fundir, fummum Eccic- fia lumen Au- guf}inum in Africa crnicuif fe : About An.D,4t8, Note. Damnato ante- ; quarr nata Ar- mini opino. Vide learned ArchBi.UJher's molt excellent Difcourfe of Free -will, in his Anfwer to the Jefuites Challenge. About Au. D. 529
To the Chriftianiteader. Further, about the Teer 8.5o, one Johannes Sco- tus (not he which wrote upon the Sentences with fo much oppofition againfl Thomas Aquinas, but an-1 ther) wrote a Book. againfl Predeítination,which the Church of Lyons confuted with a godly and learn- ed Book. one Godefcalcus, a man of the Low- Countries, is reckoned in the member of this age, about the yeer of our Lord 849, becaufe he fpake of Predeflination periloufly, to wit, That thofe who were predefti- nated to life by the decree of Gods predeftination, were forced to do well : and thofe who were pre deftinated to condemnation, were forced by the decree of God to do evill but he was refilled by Hincmarus and other learned men. This infectious errour Pelagianifine fpread into England, where it was apt to take the deeper root- ing, becaufe Pelagius himfeif by birth was a Brit tan : But the Lord rained learned Bradwardine, Arch- bifhop of Canterbury and others to ap- pear in the caufe of God, and of Free grace, and to fortifie the Churches againft all the Pelagian, whom Auguftin cals Inimicos gratiæ Dei ; and Fulgen- tins, Vafa Iræ Dei. Afterwards the fubtilty of the serpent infinuated himfelfinto the Garden of the Church by the wit and learning of Fauftus Socinus (another infauftus Fau- ftus in Poland.) They who have opportunity to con- fuit Socinus books de Minifterio,and the Catechif- mus Cracovienfis (a weft fubtill and dangerous book) (hall finde the feeds of Arminianifine, their Helenalc. Media Scientia (howe;pér Molina and o- ther
To the Chriftian Reader. Cher Popif i Authours contend, as once the (even Ci- ties did whofe Homer was) there to be conceived. They will grant aDiviná Prxfcientia, but deny de- cretum Divinum to pars upon all things, leaving the will to it Pelf to produce its own acts, which in- deed is no lets then a degree of Atheifr,i,fetting up the fecondcaufe into theThrone of the firft.Herein,and in divers other things the Arminian do.tread in their feps,as wil appear to thofe who examine Peltzius his book, the Harmony of the Socinian and Arminians Doetrine. I reif b that book were in Englifb ; it wotdd make many blufh now adaies to fee how inco- gitantly (I hope that is the worft inmany) they have run themfelves into the Tents of.Socinians and Arminians, and know not how honourably to re- treat. About' <the year 157o. when .Petrus ,Bara a French man, had infected Cambridg With that dif -'i eafe from France,(youi fee fpirituall as well as bodily evils have come from France) and one Mr.Barret, who acted concurrently with him :. then-God giving the Heads of Colledges with the Vice - chancel- Ior a.prudent7Leal to oppofe it,they fent up Dr. Tin- dall and Dr.Whitaker to complain to Arch-130°p Whitgift,which begot that ufefull Book of Articuli Lambethani.* The Leaven came then into the Netherlands,and (às learned King James faith) Arminius was the firft that infe &ed Leyden with the Pelagian Pelttius his harmony of Socle. and Ar- min. Note. Vide M. Pryns Antiarmin. * Soon after this journey, Dr. Wl,itakers hinted foul re- turned to her eternal refl,ha. ving not long before in an admirable concio ad Clerum, (rightly called his Cygntea Concio) difcovered and confuted the chiefe points of eArmiaianilm therein. Herefie.
To the Chniftian Reader. t Pelagiani[me oft called Hie- refis. hide Dr. Featly'spreface to his - Peleg. Red.VidAme[. ya1, conte. u- nira etPerl¿insç Whobothwere \n'áyear. Herefie i. He tuas a 'irong, and clear parted man; and as it is raid of origen, Ubi bene, neme inch- us ubi malè nemo us : o there are rame excellent ' 3 P 1 difcourfes in his works, and others as defperately oppofite to the Covenant of Grace, Jbattering all the links of the golden chaire of our falvation,,vhich is the great evill of Arminianifin. From à young Student, Junius prefaged of that hervouldlie 4 very ufeficll, ar molt pernicious infiniment in the Church of Chri4t. By this Junius (when the Lord had converted him from Atheifine, by reading the beginnig of thefrfì; Chapter of the Gofpell of7ohn, wherein he faw fuch majefty, that he thought that the Lord did therein detonate ab al- to) the Lord gave a foveraign antidote to his Church in thole parts, againft the infection: of Arminianifme. As about the fame time, by that glorious light, Matter Perkins in England, whom the Lord made a Malleus both of Papiiis and Ar- minians, and by more clear and condefcending difcoveries of Chrift made the deep myileries of-fpeculative, and the heavenlyfecrets of practi- call Divinity, to meet in the Pulpit ; and all this in a little time ; (for he lived but about 44. Years, being born (ni fallor) in the fink and dyed in the !aft of 2ueen EliZ beths reign. Oh,how much did he in a little time ! , But /till the Dived will be rafting weeds in- to Chrifis garden , picking up thofe that have keen rooted out, and trowing them over the wall a- gain, Now he madeuf of Barneveult in Holland, to bring e I
To the C hriftian Reader. bring Religion to ferve State purpofes, LA'nd fo carried on the Arminian defigne there. Theft dif- ferences about the power of Free -will, and filch things as hang upon that ( for there is the primum moyens) now came to be reduced to five Articles, which beg-ate the conference at Hague, betwixt both parties ; which is reported both byBrandius, and Bertius. About this time came up the name of Remon- firants, as the name Proteftant had formerly. Whereupon Dr. Ames (once Fellow of Chrifts Colledg in Cambridg , but in Doctor Carey's time then Mafter of that place , it grew too hot . for him, he not complying with the prefent Ce- remonies , and having Preached a Sermon at the Univerfity Church againft playing at Cards, which would not then be born) was by the difpofing hand of Divine providence carryed in- to thofe parts, where (as the Aufbne of that time and place) he did graple with all the Pa- trons of Free-will. Li as an Appendix to that conference at Hague, (u it is fet forth by Brandies) wrote that excellent book of his Co- ronis. But (till Arminius his difciples aóted to their utmoff ; Bertius , Grevinconius, and others To diffracted thofe Churches, that there was a necefsity of calling a Synod , which God gave them as a happy remedy, An. Dom. 1618. oh the unwearied activity of adverfaries to the cafe of Chrift (which should make others blufh to move fo heavily in afferting the Dodrinc of Free- As the name Prote(taut was given firft to the princes free Cities of Ger- many that fought Refor- mation in the Diet at Spiro, An.D. iszg. and from them paffed to us and other Countries where it was effefted. Synod ofDort, A- D.161a.
To the,Chriftian Reá.der. Free - grace)before ive could underft and what the An- itremonfirants in the Synod at Dort fully intended, ive had from the Remonftrants Ada Synodalia ; a Book indeed that required an Ames to ánfwer it (which hee hash done mall learnedly) where you have Magnum in Parvo, a great foul in a little body, a great deal of form in a little matter (as in his Bellarminus enervatus:) that being done by the Fraternity , with concurrent indeavours , and the quinteffence of the bell wits amongfi the Remon- ftrants. About the leer 1627 Mr. Montague, a man of great learning, and being backed by the then Duke of Buckingham, opened his Arminian (and i had almofi [aid Popifh) pack, when the Lord ufed Bi]hop Carleton, Dottor Featly, Dottor FPrefton- and o- thers, as happy infiruments to difcov0 his'adulte- rate Wares. Lately there.#rung up a new brood of fuch 23 did a fert Arminianifine, as Dutch Tompfon Fel- low ofClare Hall, Mauer William Channel Fel- low of Chrifls Colledg (as the many Pupils that were ÁrminianiKed under his tuition doth /how ;whether by him or no,he be/l knows:) but men are more confir- med in their fufpicion hereof, line they heard of his anfiverable actings in the llniverfty in Ireland But Hill, as in Oxford, when there was any dan- ger of dreading Arminiani[n, whether .in Acts, Books, or Sermons, they had there Robert Abbot, Twiffe,Prideaux,and other Works to fupprefs them; So in Cambridge, God gave us lately Davenant and Ward,: who did victorioufly enter the li/t3 with the moll
To the Chriftian Reader. molt confident adverfaries of Free- grace. And that bitter weed could never take deepe rooting in any of thefe three kingdomes, and thrive very fruitfully. There was in Ireland a molt learned Arch- Bifhop When to truth it there. And a mighty man in thefe Control/. verfies, Doctor Twifhe ( another Auftine) to fuppref e it in England. As learnedand induftrious Mr. Rutherford and others have done their parts fucce.(f efully in Scotland. But alas, Arminius now appears amongft us,not fo much in theSchooles and Pulpits, as in popular mee- tings. For, as Zanchius complained with much regret of the Lutheran Ubiquitaries, that he found them u- bique,every where to vex and moleft him;fo may we grieve, (o that we could with brokenne(fe of heart bewaile it) that our Univerfalifts are almofi uni- verfally fpread amongft us: It is gotten into our Ne- therlands, much into the fennifh and moorifh parts of this kingdom, yea amongft many people that love lefus Chrift, and therefore entertain it, as concei- ving it molt for his Honour ( the more they. are to be pitied, and to be inftructed with a ffiirit of meekneffe; thew them by Scripture evidence this is not Gods way of advancing Chrifi, and you recover them) it is now in popular hands, we need fuch worthies as the Author of this following Treatife (bleffed be the Father of mercy, the Fountaine of every good and perfect gift, for his and many others fruitfull labours ) who may condefcend to parley I with poor Chriflians at their Tables, in their f hops, to follow them at the plow(as Reverend Mr. Green - B ham Who Were a- ftraprime mag, nitudinir. Z. Tim. z. z4.
,T ifl oenc s, non dbwµali- Jer. 17.9. Note. Ecclef. z. i I. 'John 535 To the'Chriftian Reader. ham was wont to do) endeavouring to rectifie and reduce them. He knew how to deale wifely with fubtile adver- faries, that he might have the more advantage a- gaini them ; grants them, as mach as he could with conjiftency to his owne principles, that fo he might the more eafily confound theirs ; onely you will be fo candid as to confider that herein he #eakes ad popu- lum; and therefore as the ancient Fathers, of- ten ufeth the liberty ofJ eaking like a Preacher rather then as a Doctor of the Chaire. I reckon this a very ftrong argument to confute the power of Free -will to any fpirituall a&tion in a gracious manner, the wofull experience of mine owne wretched heart, being naturally fo defierate- ly wicked, oppofite to any fßirituallgood; But this will not convince others l only by the way I would know how it comes to paff e,if Arminius his Dotrine be true, that we have Free-will to choofe that which is truly good, why Arminians are not all 1 very good men ? Will not this be an aggravation main ahem attie dreadfulllay of judgement ? ) Therefore the Lord is móft admirably gracious in giving us fach Mafters of the Affemblies to fatten [itch Scripture truths as may hold us fait and dole under the Covenant of Grace. He was a bleíling to the colledg where hee was fellow, of Pembrooke Hall in Cambridge (which bath been a fruitfull nurfery to this Church, and an ornament to the Univerfity ) and after a burning and flirting light in Staffordshire; Ike delighted much in Preaching ire an Ev ng licall way,
To the Chiifliatt Readeri. ;say, from place to plate, as pitying many poor pining [educed Pules under blind' and fitperftitious Mini:fters. The Lord j dl'heir heart ` tvìtl, corn- pafsion,iothem, tvho''hetle ?Omer fn' their hicnds''to fupply them, that fo millions do not perifh for avant of vifion. Afterwards the noble Earl of Warwick fixed hint nt Rochford in Effex, where he did /peak and do great things to the honor of Free -grace ; He lived there more by aEting vigoroufly to his great Lord and Mailer Jefus Chrift, in a few years,then me of us his Brethren do in many. o that we who are left behinde in theft confli- cting times could more punctually and clofely follow his example ; It is not flaying the ground- leffe fopperies of Popery , nor the immerfng' our minds wholly into f ome dry difputes concerning fame externalls and formes about Religion, f as too many do now a dayes, being engaged in a par- ty ) that will fpirituallize us or our hearts fo much as Studying and Preaching over the Co- venant of Grace ; The myflerous and heavenly fecrets of the Go/1ßell rightly opened and wifely ap- plyed, will by Gods blefsing breed a Gofpell fpi- rit in thee, leave a gracious tincture upon the fiirits of Teachers and Hearers ; whereas. .poi fibly for want of this , there may be a legali tart- neffe and feverity in the Spirits and Tongues of a- ble and good men. The gracious and powerfttll Lord who onely teacheth to profit , annoynt all his Saints with that holy Unction that they may be able to dif- B 2 tern It is not e- nough lequi magna, u nle fs we do magna viverc,as Eraf
mir To the Chriftian Reader. cern of things that differ , clearly to dìflingui f li betwixt truth and error. ..And that he may to this and other happy purpofes, ble a abundantly this favourly acute and fond Treati e, _hall be the earneft Prayer of him, Who is thine in and for the Lordyefres. THOMAS HILL. ....A ... A I.
id oU an oh S, gs% d O, R en d ae a Gt On e% tdenb de, Nik2424S2Z4G22 75044124S02 G 44YeNa2 , `f`,",',II,'' I,<J, ,!,!,,,t1y"1 A TABLE OF THE CONTENTS. Tilerea fon why the wicked do not repent nor I T of . come out of their fins, is not becaufe they cannot(though they cannot) but becaufe they will not. Page. 6. 7 Demonfrations to prove it. The wicked think,they have power to repent ,but will not do Demonfl. according to their thoughts, P.7 They will not try whether they can repent or no, ibid 2 They refute the help which God offers them, 3 They will not ufe the power which God bath given 4 them. P.9 They grow werfe by the means afforded them, p.Io 5 Their cannot is very voluntary, p. i I 6 They are content with their cannot, p.I a 7 The firft Ground of the DoEtrine. Every man can do more good then he Both, and Assn more I Ground. evill then he doth, P 13 This appears by thefe following Confiderations. If a man can do more then he doth ; nothing can hinder IConfid, him bat his will, ibid. If a man can do more then he does, and yet will not, he 2 muff needs voluntarily hinder himfelffrom doing that which he cannot, P.14
3 Confd. 4 5 x eflrgu. 3 4 5 x Partic. 4 z Ground, r Demon. The Table. If a man will not de that he can, neither will he that which heras#not,ifhecould p25 ¿fa man will not do that he can, can or cannot dK is "one to hom;all flicks at his will p.16 If a man will not do that which he can, this will make a mans confcience when it comes to fpeakin fober fadnaes, thankhimfelffor his periJhing, p.16 Arguments to prove the firif Ground. Becaaáfe ld doth complain agat'nf the wicked f r the vo- luntary doing no more goodthen they do, p.x7 Becaufe otherwifethere were no roam for praife or di fpraife, p.x8 Becaufe there would be no room for the Sword of the Ma- gi lrat'` itilH Becaufe lhbugh a carnall mancannot pat of the old$oan, yet it is not his nature to ca»3mit this fin , at this Mme, and in this manner P.19. A wicked mannan do more geod,:.crc. Becaufe agodly re- gewerateónan may avoid more fin then he cloth, p.zo The Ground further proved by Particulars. The will bath dominion over all the outward ails of the members - P.zo Every man bath naturall of felfions in him by which he may do more good then he doth, and Awn more evill then he Both p:zx God bath given to every man naturali counf ell,and natural reafon and Prudence p.23 That ìs firfi in order which is naturalland afterwards that which is fpiritooall,and if a man,flick,;there,he f içk-s at -a will -not. P.24 The fecond Groñnd. Every wicked man is flothfulland negligent, p.27 Five Demonftrations to prove et. Every wicked man doth imagine more cannots,then there be 1-h makes every littlkdiffaculty uau000t, When,as rnóthing but animpo bilityuacannot. p
The Table. f oth full man turns his very abilities into cannot:, pi.29 He clot-IT voluntarily nail himfelf unto cannot:, ibid He putteth forth by halves that power which he hash, p.30 There is more in aWicked man then by reafon of fluggilbnes he putt eth forth. P.31 Six arguments to prove tins. Its a fgue it is in him ibid Becaufe when God cloth convert a finner,he dothnot pu: in i . Argot. neW powers and faculties into the foul, ibid. Becaufe he can Jhew as great power otherWife, P.3 2 z Becaufe he can fbew it too when he lift P -33 3 Becaufe the rod is able towhip it out o f him, ibid. 4 Becaufe he can do an hundred times more when he is ?leafed 5 P.34 Becaufe he will Jhew it in Hell,viz.That it was in him to do more then he did P-35 A wicked man will not fet himfelf to ufe all the means that he may, P.38 A wicked man may ufe the mean: that God hath appoint- ed as means p.40 Becaufe'ti: the very nature of means to come between ones can and his cannot ibid. Becaufe God doth not exhort manlike a company of flocks andftones,but as men that are edifiable by his word:, P41 Becaufe Cods anger is very reafonable, ibid Becaufe Gods offer of his kingdometo the wicked' isferious p.42 Becaufe Gods reproofes are very equal' P.43 5 His condemnation muff be wilfull, that will not ufe all the Concíufi. means P.44 Proved by three Arguments. God will not help that man by a miracle to go, that bath Legs to go,and will not ibid. Cod will not bate a farthing of the price he fets thee at, P-45 God 3 4 5 Conclufi. 3 Ground. Demonfl. 1. Argu. z 3 4 I Argu. 2
3 God will never be brought out of his walk,to Chew thee any mercy,or give thee any grace. P.46 Concluf. Gods Kingdome cannot be obtained without a diluent ufe of the means. P.48 Reafons of it. t Reaf. ,Becaufe heaven is an end,and an end can never be gotten ibid. without means, 2 god bath annexed it to the means, ibid. 3 Every foul muff give an account before Clod how he bath ufed the means, ibid. god will not fet up another door into heaven for any man in the world, P.49 Further proofes, and encouragements to ufe the means. r Some of the means that God bath appoineed,yon may do them without labour, P.49 2 Some of the means that God bath appointed are eater then them, ibid. 3 Some of the means are eaf:eryet, p.50 4 Some of the means ofgrace,its harder to omit them then to ufe them, ibid. Some of the means ofgrace, be they hard, yet they are but hard,they are not impofble for you to ufe, ibid. Objections. The firff Objetfions drawn from the Scriptures, which fay they cannot, P.51 The Sripture Scpeake of five cannots, i.Of a naturall can - not.2.Ofa deliberate connot.3.Ofa judiciall cannot.4.Of a compounded cannot.5.of a humbling cannot, p.5 r. &c. Thou wouldit (as thou pretendef) but thou cant not. Per- haps its the will of thy confcience,and not the will of thy heart. 2. May be it's a copulative will, Repentance and Tome luft,godlines and tome left. 3. May be tbon haft a woulding will,this is no will but onely a velleity.4. May be thou haft a generall Metaphyficall wil ; but to come to particulars,there thou wilt not, .Thou haft no true will, becaufe if thou didff will,thou couldft. P.5 5. &c. Thou rObjeEt. Anfw.
The Table. Thou def:reft to doit,but art not able, Vho can tel! bef what is in thee,God or thine own heart ? Belt the reafon of this miftak.e is, 1 . Thou haft putative or thinking defïres, thouthink"fl thou defrefl.2.Thou haft ignorant defres. 3. Thou haft wandering defres, and therefore thou art miflaken, P59 Thou refolveft andhaft goodpurpofes,but oh thou cote not perform them. p.61 Thefe purpofes thou fpeakefl of art only millings for the fu- ture. i. Becaufe its only to Jhuffle of the willing for the prefent. 2. This will for hereafter is no will, becaufe it goes without Gods. 3. It is no will, becaufe thou lisait mitre thofe fuppolitions that thou wille. l upon. p.62 Fir i, thou fuppofef thou lisalt have fewer temptations hereafter. 2. Thou fuppofeft thou/halt be fitter hereaf- ter. 3. Thy willfor hereafter is no will,but. a mockery, ibid: Thou laboureß- to fe rve God anodes be faved Is it this labour for grace and heaven, when thou laboureft fo ielely ? wherefore thy impenitencyis z> ilfull,thy dam - nation wiltall,and thy twine wilfull. p.62 Hence alto it f nilowes, i . That your deftrullion is from feife. 2. roar deflruilion is juil. 3. Your deflruçlion is inexrufable.4.rour deft ru/laon is unavoydable.5.3our deftru/lion is pittilefr. 6. Your deftrullian is grievers, P63 Application. Thou canft never be humbled unlefs thoubeleive this truth; a man is never humbled as long as he excufes himfelf. Now Fir.fl,thou excufefl thy felf for allTranfgreffionJ,be- fieles originall, ibid. Now thou excufeil thy felf from originali fin too ; Lord I would be withoutfan,but I cannot, p65 Nay,thon excuíeFl thy feife for every fin : thou taken all thy fins to be nothing but infirmities, p.66 Nay,thou commendeF't thy felf more then God, ibid. b Nay. 3 Objeïl. eflnfiìn. 4 ObjeEl. flnfir. 5 ObjeEl, eflnfw. vfe i. Of In(i:rn- Cìion. i Excufe. 2 Exciafe. 3 Excufe. 4 Excufe.
The Table. 5 Excufe. 6 Excufe. i Demos. 2 Demon. 3 Demon. 4 Demon. 5 Demon. 6 Demon. 7Jfe V fe 3. Vre 4. Vfe 5. 1 Confid. 2 Confid. ' Nay,thou can.it not fo much as pray to God for a mill ; thou art fo proud that thou conceiveft thou haft that already, p.67 Nay ,thou layft all the blame uponGod, p.68 I'irft,becaufe thou cafeeft the blame upon nature;Its my na- ture;and I cannot, -- ibid. Secondly,thou doft caft theblame upon temptations ; Its my hard hap to fall upon temptations, p.69 Thirdly,thou layft the blame upon the times; the times are very bad, ibid. Fourthly, thou layeft the blame upon this Commandment, If it were any commandement but this, I would do it. 70 Fifthly,thou lay ft the blame upon ill fortune,and had ibid. Nay frxthly, thou findeft fault with all Gods proceedings, P.71 This difcovers the deceitfulnefs of thy heart, p.72 Firft,thou wouldft very fain,if God would enable, thee : but thy heart does but here lie unto God, ibid. Secondly, hereby thou dodgeft with God, and tempteft the Lord, p73 Thirdly, hereby thou Auffleft off the word, when thou haft heard it, ibid. This point cals forgreat humiliation ; for 1 Here lies efpecially the pride of the heart,not in mens can - nots,but their will nots, {?74 2 Here lies efpecially the hardning of the heart, ibid 3 Here lies efpecially theftubbornes of the heart, p.75 4 Here lies the great eft deIIifings of the Commandements of God, ibid To quicken the thank, fulnefs of thegodly, Afeafonable Item to all Rebellious fpirits, p.76 i Is it not enough that thou haft willinglyfallen in Adam, but thou muft willingly Rand out again, P.77 2 Confider the very Saints of God that have not halfe fo many will -nets as you, that ftick more tritely ea a cannot
The Table. cannot, ibid. 3. Confider the more fbamefull one fin es,the more reafon to be humbled, ibid. Nay fourthly,cenfider there's no greater Jhame then to make away ones felfe, ibid. 5 Confider ifyou would but vex your own foule with this ferions confederation, it would make you kickyour lufls under foot, ibid. The danger of bate Pleas and Pretences. r Thisfame pleading is the noire why you are lazy and idle in the ufe of the means, viz.becaufe you flier your hearts to plead,oh we can not do it, p.79 a This fame pleading bringsup an (yid report upon piety andgodlinefs, ibid 3 This fame pleading is a murmuring again.£I Cod, q.d. why does Cod give me filch commandements that I cannot ob. erve ? p.8o 4This is thefawciefe excufe of all exce es, ibid. Nay fithly, here lies the reafon why Divines fay that the convert on ofa finner is an harder work,then the creation of heaven and earth. Firft becaufe, p.81 Here is the fame difficulty that was in creation, for God makes a Convert of nothing, ibid As there was nothing pruexiftent in the creation to help, fo there Was nothing to refift; but here is fomething to refift, the will it refifteth, p.8a" The danger of flicking at a will -not is further cleared. z If you will not ,Gods Ministers have difcbarged their du- ties ,and have left your blood on your own hands, p.83 a If you will not ,the Gofpel bath delivered its errand,ye are guilty of your own everlafting perdition, p.84. Nay thirdly,ifyou will not,The blood of lefus Chrift bath done that it came for, ibid. 4 If you will not, you murder your own foules, p.85 3 Confid. 4 Confid. 5 Confid. r Reaf. 2
The Table. A feafonable Item to the redeemed of the Lord, that they take heed of wil-nors ,for p.86 s.We never fin againft Gofpel,but only upon mid -notr, ibid 2.We never defpife God,bae only upon mil-notr, p.87 3 Confcience can never condemn au but only upon will -not:, ibid. 4 God can never be angry with u :,but only upon wilt not: ibid. The end of the Table. W I L-
I **3: r34194. TTT-TT d25 il*P:) WILFUL IMPENITENCY The Gro f fefl SELF -- MURDER. EzEK. 18. 3r, 32. For why will ye die, 0 ye Houfe of Ifrael ? &c. HE Wicked in this Chapter difjure againft God ; The fathers have eaten favor Grapes, and the children: teeth arefet on edg. Our Fathers have finned, and we are pani/bed : ' a common cavil! in every natural! mans heart, when it's urged. Adam fell,and his poor Pofferitr fmart for it : If God will needs damn us, he may, we have no power for to help it : for Who loath refitted his Will ? This is mans Syllogifm. God,who might fend man to hell for anfwer, anfwers calmly : r. By abjuration; As I live, faith the Lord , ye Jhall not have occafion to ufe this Proverb any more in Ifrael : verfe 3. 2. By an Af fertion : The foul that finneth, it shall die, ver.4. No foul !hall die but only the fame that doth fin. 3. By explication ofhimfelf : If a man do that which is right, he Jhall live, ver.5, 6. If he have been never fo wicked, yet if he return, he JXXll not die, ver. 2i . C 4. By The Divifion of the Text. Gods calm an. Ewer to their forward cavils, In particulars.
YVilfull Impenitency Four things very obferva- ble. ICraels perdi- non not from God,but from 't felf 4. By appealing to their confciences :. Have I any plea- fure at all that the wicked Jhould die, faith the Lord, and not that he Jhould return and live ? ver. 23. Have I any pleafure ? I appeal to all your confciences, Have I any pleafure at all,that the wicked fhould die? 5. By retorting : Hear now, O houfe of Ifrael, Is not my Way equall ? or, Are not your Wayes rather unequall ? ver as . áb. By'a Co,clufìon : Therefore I Will judge you, C,ë bou, oriMief, every orte'átecording-to his tl.ayes, ver.3o. j. By a finall decifron of the whale Controverf e : Re- pent and turn yourfelves, &c. fo iniquity Jhall not be your ruine: Calf away from you all, &c. For Why Will yet die, &c. Where we have thefe foure things. i. God difclaimes all caufe of their damnation from his ferret will: I have no pleafure in the death of him that d, jLetomh: ,2. He removes all caufe of their deffrultion from his rgvea4od will ; Repent and turnyour felves, &c. fo iniqui- ty (hall not be your ruing ; 'afl away, &c. 3. He difavows all caufe of their deftrut ion from his permijfiveWill, as though that were guilty, or accetfory to it ;;they can have norcolour why they are not wrought tlgon, :..eXakeyeat a new heart, and a; neat fpir , , (flake; The fault lies not at his door; no, it lies at :youu door, Makoyou,anew heart. 4. 'He;calts all the carder of. their deftruátioan,upon theiF own rebellious roils. Why wi,il ye die, O houfe ofIfrael ? a. What is the caufe you live in your fins, and die, and perifh in your fins? is it becaufe I am. not merciful/ ? you know I am gracious, and full of mercy, and ready to forgive; why then, Why Will ye die, O houle of 1 fragil ? 2. IsitbecaufeIamfw £ t to revenge? you know I. am flow to anger, and give you a warning before I cou- fume you ; why then will ye die, O houfe of Ifrael ? 3. Is it becaufe I will defiroy you for Abut, or. Ma: nab s,
the grefefl Self murder. 3 n ,Tes, or Zedekiahs, or e/Idams fin, quafi cants pecca- tram raps dependeret ? you know that if the fon walk not in the fathers fin,. I ufe to receive him, you can bear me wirncÇ'e ; I call you to a new covenant : Why then will ye die, O house of ffrael ? 4. Is it becaufe ye have no Saviour ? you know that the Lamb of God, Chrift Jefus was florin for you from the beginning of the world, that you may be faved upon faith. 5. Is it becaufe ye have no power ? ye know I offer you grace and power, and ye will not have it : Why then will ye die ? 6. Some Authours alledge five why's more. why wally, &c. Is it for this caufe, or that caufe, or that? or what caufe is it ? No caufe on Gods fide ; no, ye may thank, your own wilt if you perish ; this, this only acce- feth you, you will not be railed: you are carelefre of God, C'hrift,-Grace, and you will befo ; ye are vain, and car - nall, and obstinate, and ye will be fo ; Wo unto thee, O ?eralfalerm; wilt 'thou not be made clean ? when !hall it once be ? Jer..t 3.27. He does not fay, Wo unto thee Je- rufalem, cánft thou not be made clean ? but wilt thou not be made clean'? Prefuppofitions not to be miftal(en. r., Its true, that a wicked man cannot repent, nor be converted of himfelf ; but this cannot, do's not hin- der him. If a wicked mans cannot did hinder him, he might excuse himfelf before the Tribunall of Christ Lord, thou k ioweft l did my best, I would have been ru- led by thy word, but I could not ; I would have been humbled and reformed better then I was, brit I could not : If a wicked mans cannot did hinder him, he might ex- cube himfelf thus : But alas, he is not able to fay thus, without peremptory lying; Lord,I could not chufe but do wickedly : I a&ted molt wretchedly, but I could not o- therwife chufe. Though it was not in thy power not to be $ Y P born in original fin, yet who necellitated thee to tom- C 2 nTit Rev t; 8 John;. c6. Id arum vos accurr, refpif cere non vuitis. i PreCuppo6- don noc to be mil'caken. Licit aliquie non po ttgrati- pt¡ci dui ram roa btatur d èp Peo ; tarnen quid in hoc vel illud peccatum li batur, trio eontingit : Uncle arbande tg, meritò fibi
4 in cutpam impu- tatnr. flq. par.:. qu. ad Atr. 3. refp. 23. Arg. t erti- um . 2. Prefup. 3. Prefup. Wilfull Impen itency mit fuch grofle afuall fins? In Prov.1.29. they hated knowledge, they did not chufe the feare of the Lord. They did not ufe any liberty of will to , chufe that which was good. What, was it becaufe they could not ? no, for albeit they could not, yet that was not the caufe : No, They would none of my counfell, they delpifed all my re- proofe,v. 3o. Marke ; The reafon why they did not chufe, was not becaufe they could not chnfe, but be- caufe they would not. Its true, God doth not give them power to beleeve, and to be renewed : but can they fay, Though I would ferioufly, God would not? were they able to fay thus? Though I delired it heartily, God would not give me grace ; then they had fome colour to cart it upon God: I would, but God would non--But-they cannot caft it up- on him. How often would I have gathered thee together even as the Hengathereth her chickens ?but thou wouldit not. I would, laid God; but you would not; nay, How of- ten would I but you would not ?(2'fat.23. 37. Though God be not fo willing as to give them all power:to beleeve and be faved ; yet he is aforehand with them. Its true,if the wicked fhould wil as far as they are able to will, yet their will were not able full out; but this doth not excufe them, becaufe God alwaies refolved to be aforehand with them. Indeed, as in Mat.z5.29. God gives his fervants this rule by which he ever goes to- wards them, nto every one that hath, Jball be given, and he Jbal have abundance ; fpeaking of things in eodem gene- re. But to apply it to a man in the flare of nature, is to fay, Grace is given according to workes: which is the very dreggs of Pelagianifme. Yet however, all this is a moll encouraging intimation. Let any man ufe the power that God gives him, and he fhall have more; as he that takes paines for Learning: As he that ufeth meanes to increafe his eftate,may find in ordinary providence,thatthe hand of the diligent makes rich. He that ufeth a penny well, makes it two pence ; hee that ufeth two pennies very well, makes it a groat. So
the grof feti Self - murder. So that, though there be not fuch an Infallibilar nex- t, that God hath bound himfelfe in the ufe of our natu- rall abilities to add fupernaturall graces ; yet undoubted- ly he will never be wanting to promote any good wo rke, till men neglelf or contemne. And this leaves men wholly without excufe, and fhews,it is not their cannot, but their will not, which betrayer them to their fpirituall to f fes ; namely, their Wilful/ rejetting of Gods gracious of eri. Its true, God gives the wicked but one Talent, when he giveth his children foure, two at the leaft ; but they cannot fay, he is auft ere, reaping where he fowed not, gathering where he ftrewed not. No, There's the fame proportion between one Talent, and gathering one more, as there is between two, and the gathering of two others &c. You know that they are ready to complain, as Chrift thews it in the Parable. Lord, I knew that thou waft an hard man, reaping where thou haft not fown, and gathe- ring where thou haft not firmed : But ye remember alto the Lords anfwer, Thou wicked and flothfull fervant, &c.Mat.25.z6. Marke; he calls the blame upon his wilfulnefe, that he would not take pains.for to trade. So the wicked complain, Alas, God hath not fown any power of conver/ion in my heart, and will he look for to reap it? This isauftereneffeand hardnefe of dealing. Oh thou wicked and flothfull fervant, &c. Why didit thou not trade with the Talent that I gave thee? One Talent fhould beget one, as well as two beget two, &c. But I gave thee Wit, and thou buriedlt it in the earth, and haft bin earthly with it. I gave thee knowledge, and thou haft hid it in the earth,and not traded for refor- mation according to it, &c. Alas,thou canft not plead a cannot, but only a will not. Its true, that if one wicked mans will be more willing then another, it is not from himfefe ,but from Cod. For what haft thou that thou haft not received? a Cor. 4.7. Its God that maketh one wicked man to differ from another in 4. Prefup, 5. Pre('up. r Cor.5.7.
will Alesitency in goodnefe, and to bebetter then another. One wicked man is a drunkard,and another is better, &c. One wic- ked man' is morewilfull, another is leffe. Its God that makes this difference ; yet notwithftanding its his own fault, that he is uotfogood as his neighbour, efpecially when he fits under better helper then his neighbour. The men ofNiniveh fliall rife up againfl this generation, and (ball condemn it, becaufe they repented at the preaching; of 7onah, and behold, a greater then f onah is here. See,this generation was Worfe then Niniveh : Niniveh repented a great way, even in fakclotb and afhes; but this genera- tion Both not. I grant, it was God that did make them do more then this generation doth do. For all would be alike wilful', if it were not for him. But yet this gene- ration cannot plead injudgment, Lord, thou waft not fo gracious unto us, as to Niniveh; No, Jefus Chrift exprefly telleth them, Niniveh than rife up in judgment againft them, q.d. Niniveh was not fo wilful' as you; Ni- niveh Would, but you would not. Our Saviour Chri.Fi afcribes it to their wilfullneffe, that they were not fo willing as Niniveh. Niniveh would, but you would not. Thus you fee the fuppofitions , which I befeech you remember as we go, leali perhaps you miftake us. The reafonwhy the wicked do not repent nor come out of theirfames, is not becaufe they cannot ( though they can, not) but becaufe they will not. Peter faith to Ananias, why bath Satan filled thy heart to lie to the holy Ghofl, to keep back part of the price of the Land? was it not once in thy power ? Before thou didit promife, 'twas in thy power whether thou wouldft promife or no ; did anyforce thee to prozaife ? and when thou hadft promifed, did any fqueeze the lie out of thy tongue, that thou fhouldeft tell a lie to the Holy ghofl ? did any drag thy fingers to the ,money, and force thee to handle it ? no, thou wouldfi lie, and thou wouldfl finger it. Seven Demonfttations to provethis. I. The
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