Verf. i6. the .pille to the Romans. Interpre- tation. DoEfrine. T t M. What iì meant by [it P] S r L.Either Ele&Ion and Gods ptir- poCeistobefupplyedout of verf. tt. or his love, out of verf. 13. which comes all to one; as al fo to fupply fal - vation,is the fame in effect. T t M. What it meant by [Him ?] S t L. We may particularly under- hand it ofJacob mentioned before ; but the beft is, generally to expound it of many, even Jacob and all others which be chofen.For the Apofile now delive- reth a general do&rive touching the cauCe of eleEtion.Therefore they are de- ceived which interpret this [Him] of God, referring to God all three fol- lowing, willing,running, and (hewing mercy. T i M. What meaneth he by [Will ?] S L L. The thoughts, purpofes,.and endeavours of the minde,even whatfo- ever it is that men do f}rtve and attain 'unto, by all the inward faculties of their minde and foul. T t M. What mull be underflood by [Running ?] S t t. All mans outward a&ions,his words and deeds whatfoever. Not of Efaus running to hunting, or Jacobs running to dreffe the Kid, for this is abfurd, but of all good works done by the ele&. T r M. What Dotlrinear;reth from theft words thus opened ? S t L. That nothing that is in men, their thoughts,words,and deeds,do not avail any thing to ele&ion or falvati- on,in fuch fort as to be caufes to move God to chuleand fave fome, and not others : this conies not by willing,and running, out ofour merits. T t M. Mufi we understand this Dollrine of unregenerate only, or of the faithfull alto? S I L. Of all forts of men, both one and the other, it is not the delires and deeds of any ,whereupon their falvati- on and ele &ion depends, as upon im- pulfive motives,or efficient cau fes. T r M. What is it then that you judge of the will and deeds ofnaturals men ? S r L. Every man before his new birth,hath in him the power ofwilling even from his birth ; the force and po- wer ofhts will, is to will freely every thing that is evill, and freely to will Ionic good things : for the will cannot be compelled,it willeth freely whatfo- ever it willeth.The good things which it willeth, are either natural and civil good things,thatbelong to this life, as to eat, ref}, take phyfick, &c. or to re- frain the outward a &ions of vices, and to do theoutward a &ions of vertues yea, and in divine things, .a man may have power naturally to wil that which is outwardly to be done; yet fo,as with this power ofwilling, there commeth the effe &ualpower of God moving all things, and profperìng that which men do well. T t M. Why doth the fl¡oJlle fay, it is not iri man that willeth or runneth, if it 1 flu r S t L. He doth not abfölutely deny that men do will, or run, or forbid us limply either to delire or endeavour or do any thing: btu he teacheth that God eternally did fee nothing that was to be naturally in man, to move him to ele& himto life,or that ought which a man cloth or willeth before his new birth,is acceptable to God, and availa- ble to fave himfelf. T t M. But are we not to judge of herwife of the works and wils ofregenerate perfons? S I "L;No otherwife,as in this regard, that they fhould have any f}roke in their ele &ion to move God thereunto: indeedthey pleafe God through Chrif}, becaufe they are the fruits of his Spirit though unperfe&, as alCo they be the way wherein the godly walk towards heaven. But as they cannot merit our falvation by the doing of them, fo the fore-fight of them did not move God to ele& us, or yet to call, or juftifie, or adopt, and fan&ifie us,and fave us. T s M. Butare not Gods children bound to will and to do good duties, to beleeve and to repent Si L. True, they are : and without them, none ofyears can be faved ; but not to afcribe their ele&ion unto them becaufe many Infants are chofenwho never could do good. T oM.Shew urthereafonsof this Delirino? S t L. Firf },all the goodneffe which is 347
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