A godly and learned exposition or commentary upon the three first chapters of the…A godly and learned exposition or commentarie vpon the three first chapters of the…

Secondly▪ they also abuse this text, that hereby would prove a flexible free will by grace to be in man: which is this. Sundry men think, that after the fall of Adam, all being wrapped up in sin, God gave a general grace, whereby any man might will, and receive that which is good: and this grace, though it dispose the will in some part to that which is good, yet it takes not the corruption away, but that remains still; whereupon if he will, he may receive Christ by that general grace, or if he will not, he may refuse Christ by his natural corruption which yet remaineth in him. It is said, this may be gathered from this text: But the truth is, here is no foundation for flexible free-will: all that can here be gathered is, that man hath free-will in his conversion, yet not by a general, but by Gods special grace. Nay, Christs ministry serue• for this end, that those which before could not turn of themselves, might by grace be converted. This flexible grace is against Gods word: Christ saith; ^aEvery one that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father cometh unto me; He saith not, may come if he will, but peremptorily cometh: For mans will cannot dispose and over-[…] the work of God; but the work […] God over-rules the will of man: though man be unwilling, yet when God calleth effectually he cannot but come; For the creature cannot reject or resist the will and calling of his creator.

Secondly▪ they also abuse this text, that hereby would prooue a flexible free will by grace to be in man: which is this. Sundry men thinke, that after the fall of Adam, all being wrapt vp in sinne, God gaue a generall grace, whereby any man might will, and receiue that which is good: and this grace, though it dispose the will in some part to that which is good, yet it takes not the corruption away, but that remaines still; whereupon if hee will, he may receiue Christ by that general grace, or if hee will not, hee may refuse Christ by his naturall corruption which yet remaineth in him. It is saide, this may bee gathered from this text: But the truth is, here is no foundation for flexible free-will: all that can here be gathered is, that man hath free-will in his conuersion, yet not by a generall, but by Gods speciall grace. Nay, Christs ministry serue• for this end, that those which before could not turne of themselues, might by grace be conuerted. This flexible grace is against Gods word: Christ sayth;