C.XII. Efficacyof incernall Grace confiftentwith Exh. from the Word. 282 is no other operation ofGod inPerfwading men, as to the ends under coati. deration, but only what lies, or conGfts in the perfwading of the Word, by theMinifters thereof; God lookingon , without the exertingOf any efficacy whatever, which is indeedthat which is aimed at, & is really exclufive ofthe Grace ofGod, from anyhand in theConvertonoffanners; or Prefervation of Believers. g: 37. 3. He doth not indeed affert any fuch PerfwadingofGod;but only tels you, that fromwhat hehath fpoken, it dothnot follow; that God dothno more then Minifers in Perfwadingmen; And that when two períwade to one and the fame Action, one may be more effè luill inhis perfwading than another: but that God isfo, orhowhe is fo, or wherein his peculiar perfwaóons do confìft, there is not in his difcourfe the leaft intimation. Fourthly, There is in men a different power as to Perfwafion ; tome ha= ving a facultythat way, farre more eminent , and effetuall than others, ac= cording to their fkill and proficiency in Oratory and Perfwafive Arts ; this only is afcribed to God, that hefo excells us, as one man excells another; But howthat Excellency ofhisis exerted, thats not to beunderftood ; But there is proofe tendered you of all this, from r Cor: 3. 9/WhereMinifters are faid, to cooperate with God, which they cannot do, unleffe it be withthefame 1. andof efficiency; (well faid)And that whenone worhes Necefitatingly andanother by Perfwafion; they cannot befaid to cooperate, no more thenone that runner , or ano- ther that walkes can be Paid to walke together: Certainly our Author never dreamed that any man whatever, wouldput himfelfe to the trouble of exa. mining thefe di&ates,orhe would have been more wary ofhis afferting them, andwe had not had fo muchnot only new and ftrange Divinity, but new anduncouthPhilofophy, heaped up without any confiderable endeavour of proofeor confirmation. ..38; Firft, That two Agentscannot concurre, orcooperate to the producingof the fame effe&, but with the fame kind ofe iciency,is a rarenotion indeed; Washenever perfwaded todoe any thing in his life? What thinks he ofDa vid's, & the Amorates killing ofVriah?of a Judge, &an Executioner flaying a Malefaftor; ofGod & Satan, moving David to number thePeople; ofGod & Iofephsbrethren, fendinghim toEgypt ? But what need Imention Inftances ? Whoknowes not that this foconfounds all caufes Efcient, & that principali, & Inftrumentall, Materiali,Finall, Formal!, which in their produ&ionof ef- fe&s, haveall their diftin& efficiency , and vet theircooperation. Secondly, The proofefrom the Scripture mentioned, extends only to the interefting of Miniffers in the great honour of Cooperating withGod , in the workofbegetting, & increafing Faith in their own fpheare, according to the work to them committed. But that God, and they, doworkwith thefame kindofefficiency,'tis the tnaine intendment ofthe Apoftle in the placecited, z Cor: 3. todifprove; He tells youindeed, there is a work ofPlantingand wa= tering, committed to the Miniflers of the Gofpell ; but thegiving of increafe, (apeculiar working with a diftin&kind ofEfficiency)that is alone tobeafcri- bed toGods It is (I fay) his defigne, (who every where abundantly informes us; thatFaith is thegiftofGodwrought in us by the exceeding greatnefeof his Power,) toprove in this place , that though the difpenfation of the Wordof the Cofpell becommitted untomen , yet their whole Miniftrywill be vaine; andofnoneeffe&, unleffe by animmediate efficacy,or working ofhisSpirit, giving &beftoAvingFaith onhis Ele&, God dogive an increafe. Thirdly, For the terme of [ Necefìtating ] put upon the real]. effe&uall, work ofGods Grace on the wills of men, giving them power, afìzftance, and Working . in them to will and to do, asdifferent from that which is purelyMo- rail
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