A Reformed Catholic

The point of difference standeth in the cause of the freedom of mans will in spiritual matters, which concern the kingdom of God. The Papists say, mans will concurreth & worketh with gods grace in the first conversion of a sinner by it self, and by it own natural power; and is only helped by the holy Ghost. We say, that mans will worketh with grace in the first conversion, yet not of it self, but by grace. Or thus; They say, will hath a natural cooperation: we deny it, & say it hath cooperation only by grace, being in it self not active but passive; willing well only as it is moved by grace, whereby it must first be acted and moved, ⟨p. 17⟩before it can act or will. And that we may the better conceive the difference, I will use this comparison: The Church of Rome sets forth the estate of a sinner by the condition of a prisoner, and so do we: mark then the difference. It supposeth the said prisoner to lie bound hand and foot with chains & fetters, and withal to be sick and weak, yet not wholly dead but living in part: it supposeth also that being in this case, he stirreth not himself for any help, & yet hath ability and power to stir. Hereupon if the keeper come and take away his bolts and fetters, and hold him by the hand and help him up, he can and will of himself stand and walk and go out of prison: even so (say they) is a sinner bound hand and foot with the chain of his sins; and yet he is not dead but sick, like to the wounded man in the way between Jericho and Jerusalem. And therefore doeth he not will and affect that which is good; but if the holy Ghost come and do but untie his bands, and reach him his hand of grace, then can he stand of himself and will his own salvation, or any thing else that ⟨p. 18⟩