QUESTION XIV. 375 new nature within, and to save a sinner, when he strikes such a supernatural light into the mind, as he certainly knows and in- tends shall finally prevail over the will by moral influence or persuasion, though not by physical necessity, or any overpower- ing force, and absolute determination*. " Thus, says he, divine gracebas its complete honour, for it is the first and supreme mover in conversion, and without it no man would repent or turn to God; and hereby also, God has all the honours of his own government, in a moral way, over creatures that are en- dued with freedom of will to chuse or refuse their own hap- piness." If I were to give my sentiments in the matter, I must, confess I should like the opinion of R best, in as much as it happily secures and confirms the salvation of such particular per- sons as God has chosen, without making machines of them; for though R allows the grace of God to enlighten the mind, so far as shall certainly gain a victory over the will, and persuade it to repent, believe, and obey God, yet he supposes the will is left still in its native freedom, which cannot be constrained, or absolutely and necessarily determined in its acts or volitions, even by any ideas or perceptions of the mind, and he allows them only the moral force of motives to persuade the will: Thus the full honour of divine government, in all the moral views of it, is sufficiently maintained, as well as the proper freedom or liberty of the will of loan ; and God bestows sal- vation finally on those only who are persuaded to repent and ac- cept of it. And herein lies the gloryof God's moral government, that distributes rewards or punishments, according as men chuse or refuse good or evil. But I think there might be a little improvement made to the sentiments of R thus : Is there not a great distinction to be made between the habit, or the principle of holiness in the heart, and the acts or exercises ofit in the life ? It is certain, there are, or may be, infused habits or principles, as well as acquired ones : As for instance; the apostles had a habit of talking Hebrew or syro-chaldaic as their native language, which was acquired by learning from their childhood ; but they had an infused habit or principle of speaking other strange languages, given them by the supernatural power of God or his Spirit, at the day of pente- cost which they exercised immediately with great freedom, as re- lated in Acts ii. 4ll. * Whereas some call this grace irresistible, and some prefer the word insuper- able; R rather chusea to call it effectual, which is a scriptural term ; and auto- Moss, which is favoured by Mat. xii. 21. Christ shall bringforth judgment unto victory: which is interpreted, that he shall bring forth the knowledge of his gospel unto victory over the nations : Or it may be explained, he shall h. jug forth the judgment of the mind finally to a victory over the will and affections, which is a very near allusion, if not the true interpretation of theplace.
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