Book IlL OR THE G 0 s p E L G L 0 R I 0 u s. 537 2. It is attributeJ to be wholly of Grace to the end God might h., e • the Glory and all boalling might be excluded. But ( 1.) The Doctrine of thefe Men, as the Doflor obferves, afcribes the whole Glory of our Recreoeration and Converfion unto Ourfelves, and nor to the Grace of Gael, for that Afr of our Wills on this Suppoiltion, whereby we turn unto God, is merely an Act of our own, and not of the Grace of God; this is evident, for if the Act itfelf were of Grace, then would it not be in the power ot the Will to hinder it. (2.) This would leave it abfolutely uncertain notwithllanding the Purpofe of God.· and the Purchafe of Chrill, whether ever any one in the World ihould be converted unto God, or no. For when the whole Work of Grace is over, it is abfolutely in the Power of the Will of Man whether it £hall be effectual, or no. And fo abfolutely uncertain, which is contrary to the Covenant, Promife and Oath of God, unto and with Jefus Chrifl. . (3.) lt is contrary to exprefs Tellimonies of Scripture innumerable, wherein actual Converfion unto God is afcribed unto Grace as the immediate Effect thereof. This will further appear afterwards. God worketh in tts to will and to do ; the Act therefore itfelf of willing in our Conver!ion, is of God's Operation, and although we will our– ftlves, yet it is he who caufeth us to will, by working in us to will and to do, Phi!. ii. '3· And if the Act of our Will in Believing and Obedience, in our Converfion to God; be not the Effect of his Grace in us, he doth uot work in us both to will and to do of his own good Plcafure. 1. The Work ofConverfion itfelf, and in particular the Act of Believing or Faith itfelf is expreilly faid to be of God, to be wrought in us by him, to be freely grven umo us from him; the Scripture faith not that God gives us Ability or Power r.o believe -only, namtly, fuch a Power as we may make ufe of, if we will, or do otht'rwiJt:-, but Faith and Conver!ion themfdvcs are faid to be the Work a~d Effect of God. Objefl. But it may be objected that every Thing which is actually accomplifi>ed is in potentia befOre. There mull therefore be in us a Power tO believe btfore we do fo actually. Anfw. 1. The Act of God working Faith in us, is a creating Work, for we are his Workmanfbip created in Chrifl Jefus. And he that is ill Cbrift is a mwCreature, Eph., ii. ro. Now the Effects or creanng acts are not in potentia any where but in the actrve Power of God, fo was the World itfelf before its actual Exi!tence. This is termed potentia tcgica; which is no more but a N egation of any Contradiction to Exillence; not potentia ph;fica which includes a Difpofition to actual Exitlence. Notwirhftanding therefore all thefe preparatory Works of the Spirit of God which we allow in thr• Matter, there is not by them wrought in the Minds and Wills of Men fuch a next Power, as they call it, as ihould enable them to believe without further actual Grace working Faith itfdf. Wherefore with refpect to believing, the firft Act oLGod is to work in us to will ; fo Phi!. i. '3· He <vorketh in us to will. 1 hrs God workerh in us by that Grace which Auflinand other learned Men call gratia opermts. z. raith and Repentance. It is faid to be given of God. Him bath God exalted to be a Prince and a Savior, to give Repentance unto lfrael and Remif!ion of Sin, Afls v. 3 t. 'l'o )'Oil it is given in behalf of Chrijf, not only to believe but to fu./fer for bis fake, Phi/. i. 29. By Graceye arefaved through Faith, and that not ofyourfelves, it is the Gift ofGod, .Eph, ii. 8. Our own Ability, be it what it will, however affifted and excited, and God:s Gift are contrary dillinguiihed. If it be of ourfelves it is not the Gift of God; if it be the Grft of God, it is not of ourfdves, and the Manner how God bellows this Gift t~pon us is declared, Ver. 1 o. For we are bi.< W orkmanjhip created i11 Chrifl J ejtd unto g ood W orks. And from hence F aith is called the Faith of the Operation of God. 3· Love, that precious prevailing Grace, is planted in the Soul by the Spirit, cauf– ing the Soul with Delight and Complacency to cleave unto God and his Ways, 'l'he Lord God will circumcife thine Heart to love the Lord, Deut. xxx. 6. Hope maketh uot a}hamed, becaufe the Love ofGod isJhed abroad, in our Hearts b)' the Holy Gbofl, Rom. v. 5· 'J'he Fruit of the Spirit is Love, Gal. v. 22. 4· It might be further demonfhated by confidering, how Converfion with the Man– ner how it is efteded, is fet forth in the holy Scripture; 'J'he Lord thy God will cir6 X cumcife
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