319 Of the ordinary influence oftheHoly Ghof , Vol. II. Spirit, if fo be, that without it we should Rill remain dead in trefpaffes andfins, and should never be able to emerge and recover out of that corrupt and miferable Rate. 2. Grace does not defiroyNature, nor divine affiftance take away our liberty, but frees us from our bondage ; and, as David expreffeth it, enlargeth our hearts to run the ways of God's commandments, for if God doall, and we nothing, all ex, hortations ándperfuafions would be in vain. But then it feems that we may receive the grace of God in vain, and refill the Holy Gbof ; and our complying with it, or not refitting of it, is our own A&; which is to make Men their own Saviour, and to give the calling and determining Vote to human liberty. I: anfwer, z. The Scripture exprefly fays, that Menmay receive thegrace of God in van, and rejeS the counfel of Godagai7j themfelves ; and that if we rebel againi, and difobey the motions of God's Spirit, he will depart from us, and we forfeit his aflìflance. 2. All this is, c4))!3s óy(G3 sneer cavil; as will appear to any one, by this plain inflame. A Rebel is convicted, and liable to the fentence and condemnation of the Law, he foes for a Pardon, and obtains and accepts it ; will any Man now fay, that becaufe he afks and accepts it from the King, and the King does not take hishand and open it, and violently thruff the Pardon into it, that this Man raves himfelf, and takes away the glory of the King's grace and mercy, and that he owes his life to himfelf, and not to the King's bounty and goodnefs ? A Man wouldbe thought very fenfelefs, that shouldfo afcribe this Man'sdeliverance from death to any a& of his own, as not to think it wholly owing to the King's grace and favour. I think the cafe is the very fame, concerning Mens complying with that grace which God affords them for their repentance unto life. I would fain know of these fubtle Objectors, whether Mofes, when he fays, Deut. go. 19. 1 have fee before you life and death, bleing and curling, therefore chufe life ; does not, in fo faying plainly fuppofe, that Men may chufe life or refufe it-? And iffo, whether he intended tomake Men their own Saviour ? But this Obje&ion is preft yet a little farther; That if this be fo, then7udas had as much caufe to thank God as Peter had. And who ever denied, or can de- ny, that a Rebel who refufeth a Pardon offered to him by his Prince, hath the fame real obligation of gratitude to his Prince, with him that accepts it? The Prince offers the fame favour to both, and the obligation is equal; and tho' he that accepts it do not fave himfelf, yet he that refufeth it deflroys himfelf. And at the Judgment of the great Day, all impenitent finners under the Gofpel, £hall be forced to acknowledge the Grace of God to them, in affording the opportunity of Salvation, and shall only blame and condemn themfelves_ for negle&ing that happy opportunity. But if an irrefiftible degree of Grace be necelfary to every Man's Salvation, it is plain, that impenitent finners never had the opportunity of Salvation, and confequently cannot condemn themfelves for the neglect of it. I have been the longer upon-this, that I might root out of the Minds of Men an inveterate falfe perfuafion, concerning the manner of the operation of God's Grace in the converfion of finners. And thus much may fuffice to have fpoken concerning the Operation of God's Spirit upon Men, in order to their converfion and making of them good : But after Men are converted, and do fincerely repent andbelieve the Gofpel, they have the Spirit ofGod in another manner; he dwellsand refides.in believers, as a conflant and fettled Principleof Holinefs and Obedience, as I have already (hewn. a $ER-
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