III. When a carnal Christian hears, that man hath not free-will unto good, he looseth the reins to his own corrupt will: as though it lay not in him to bridle or to ⟨p. 238⟩subdue it. Implicitly, making God the author of sin, in suffering man to run into this necessity. But he should know, that GOD gave Adam free-will to stand in his *integrity if he would: but man abusing his free-will, lost both himself and it. Since the Fall, Man in his state of corruption, hath Free-will to evil, but not to good: for, in this state, bwe are not (saith the Apostle) sufficient to think a good thought. And God is not bound to restore us what we lost so wretchedly, and make no more care to recover again. But, as soon as a man is regenerated, the Grace of God freeth his will unto good, so that he doth all the good things he doth, ⟨p. 239⟩with a Free-will: for so the Apostle saith, that cGod of his own good pleasure, worketh both the will and the deed in us, who (as the Apostle expoundeth) dcleanse our selves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, and finish our sanctification in the fear of God. And in this state, every true Christian hath Free-will, and as he increaseth in grace, so doth his will in freedom: for ewhen the Son shall make us free, then shall we be free indeed: and, fwhere the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty: for the holy Spirit draws their minds, not by coaction, but by the cords of Love, Can. 1.4. by illuminating their minds to know the truth; by changing their hearts to love ⟨p. 240⟩the known truth, and by enabling every one of them, according to the measure of grace which he hath received,7 to do the good which he loveth. But thou wilt not use the freedom of thy will so far as GOD hath freed it: for thou dost many times wilfully against Gods Law, to the hazard of thy Soul; that, which if the Kings Law forbade under the penalty of death, or loss of thy worldly state thou wouldest not do. Make not therefore thy want of free-will unto good to be so much the cause of thy sin, as thy want of a loving heart to serve thy heavenly Father.
III. When a carnall Christian heares, that man hath not free-will vnto good, he looseth the reynes to his owne corrupt will: as though it lay not in him to bridle or to ⟨p. 238⟩subdue it. Implicitely, making God the authour of sinne, in suffering man to runne into this necessitie. But hee should know, that GOD gaue Adam free-will to stand in his *integritie if hee would: but man abusing his free-will, lost both himselfe and it. Since the Fall, Man in his state of corruption, hath Free-will to euill, but not to good: for, in this state, bwe are not (saith the Apostle) sufficient to think a good thought. And God is not bound to restore vs what wee lost so wretchedly, and make no more care to recouer againe. But, as soone as a man is regenerated, the Grace of God freeth his will vnto good, so that hee doth all the good things hee doth, ⟨p. 239⟩with a Free-will: for so the Apostle saith, that cGod of his owne good pleasure, worketh both the will and the deede in vs, who (as the Apostle expoundeth) dcleance our selues from all filthinesse of the flesh and spirit, and finish our sanctification in the feare of God. And in this state, euery true Christian hath Free-will, and as hee increaseth in grace, so doth his will in freedome: for ewhen the Sonne shall make vs free, then shall wee be free indeede: and, fwhere the Spirit of the Lord is, there is libertie: for the holy Spirit drawes their mindes, not by coaction, but by the cordes of Loue, Can. 1.4. by illuminating their mindes to know the truth; by changing their hearts to loue ⟨p. 240⟩the knowne truth, and by enabling euery one of them, according to the measure of grace which hee hath receiued,7 to doe the good which he loueth. But thou wilt not vse the freedome of thy will so farre as GOD hath freed it: for thou dost many times wilfully against Gods Law, to the hazard of thy Soule; that, which if the Kings Law forbad vnder the penaltie of death, or losse of thy worldly state thou wouldest not doe. Make not therefore thy want of free-will vnto good to be so much the cause of thy sinne, as thy want of a louing heart to serue thy heauenly Father.
- *Magna• hom. liberi arbitris vires, cum conderetur accepit: sed eas p•ccando amisit. Aug. de. spirit. & lit. cap. 3. Eccles. 7.29. Ecclus. 15.14 Homo malè utens libero suo arbitrio, & see, & liberū suum arbitrium perdidit. Aug. Ench. ad Laur. cap. 30Magna• hom. liberi arbitris vires, cum conderetur accepit: sed eas p•ccando amisit. Aug. de. spirit. & lit. cap. 3. Eccles. 7.29. Ecclus. 15.14 Homo malè vtens libero suo arbitrio, & se, & liberū suum arbitrium perdidit. Aug. Ench. ad Laur. cap. 30
- b2 Cor. 3.5. Per lapsum, arbitrii libertas in naturalibus manca, in supernaturalibus amissa est. donec gratia restituatur.2 Cor. 3.5. Per lapsum, arbitrii libertas in naturalibꝰ manca, in supernaturalibus amissa est. donec gratia restituatur.
- cPhil. 2.12.13. Actiagimus, The will is passive in receiving the first grace, afterward active in all goodness.Phil. 2.12.13. Actiagimus, The will is passiue in receiuing the first grace, afterward actiue in all goodnesse.
- d2 Cor. 7.1.
- eJoh. 8.36. Liberum arbitrium, non nisi gratia Dei efficitur. liberū. Aug. ad Colos. c. 7.Ioh. 8.36. Liberum arbitrium, non nisi gratia Dei efficitur. liberū. Aug. ad Colos. c. 7.
- fCor. 3.17
- 7
