But you will say, Faith is indeed by these means stronger then sin when it worketh▪ but not when it sleepeth; and the working of Faith, being dependant upon the faculties of the Soul which are essentially mutable and inconstant in operation, must needs be uncertain too: that sin, though it be far weaker then Faith, may yet, when by our security Faith is fallen asleep, surprise and kill it, even as Ja•l a weak woman upon the same advantage killed Sisera a strong Captain. But though Faith sleep, yet He that keepeth Israel doth neither slumber nor sleep, and we are kept not only by Faith, but by His Power, which Power worketh all our works for us and in us, giveth us both the Will and the Deed; *the Gift of continuing in His Fear, and ⟨p. 446⟩the Will so to continue. The heart of the king, saith Solomon, that is the most sovereign, unconquerable, peremptory, and unsubjected will in the World, is in the Hand of God, even as clay in the hand of the Potter. So that though our hearts in regard of themselves be not only at large and indeterminate to any Spiritual operations, but have an extreme reluctancy to all the motions of Gods Spirit▪ yet considering their subordination to Gods merciful purposes, to the Power of His Grace, to His *Heavenly aCall according unto purpose, to the exceeding greatness and working of his mighty Power, manifest it is, that they are bundeclinable mightily, by ca hidden, wonderful, most effectual power; yea, by an dOmnipotent facility, and yet emost sweetly and connaturally moved unto Grace. They are all the frequent words of Holy Austin, that fChampion of Grace, whose unvaluable industry in that behalf all after ages have admired, but hardly paralleled.
But you will say, Faith is indeede by these meanes stronger then sinne when it worketh▪ but not when it sleepeth; and the working of Faith, being dependant upon the faculties of the Soule which are essentially mutable and incostant in operation, must needes bee uncertaine too: that sinne, though it bee sarre weaker then Faith, may yet, when by our security Faith is fallen asleepe, surprize and kill it, even as Ia•l a weake woman upon the same advantage killed Sisera a strong Captaine. But though Faith fleepe, yet Hee that keepeth Israel doth neither slumber nor sleepe, and we are kept not onely by Faith, but by His Power, which Power worketh all our workes for us and in us, giveth us both the Will and the Deede; *the Gift of continuing in His Feare, and ⟨p. 446⟩the Will so to continue. The heart of the king, saith Salomon, that is the most soveraigne, unconquerable, peremptorie, and unsubjected will in the World, is in the Hand of God, even as clay in the hand of the Potter. So that though our hearts in regard of themselves bee not onely at large and indeterminate to any Spirituall operations, but have an extreme reluctancie to all the motions of Gods Spirit▪ yet considering their subordination to Gods mercifull purposes, to the Power of His Grace, to His *Heavenly aCall according unto purpose, to the exceeding greatnesse and working of his mighty Power, manifest it is, that they are bvndeclinable mightily, by ca hidden, wonderfull, most effectuall power; yea, by an dOmnipotent facilitie, and yet emost sweetly and connaturally moved unto Grace. They are all the frequent words of Holy Austin, that fChampion of Grace, whose unvaluable industry in that behalfe all after ages have admired, but hardly paralell'd.
- *Prima gratia quae data est primo Adam est illa quâ fit ut Homo habeat Justitiam sivelit; se•unda, quae potentior est in secundo Adam, […] potest, quâ etiam fit ut velit, & tantum velit, tantoque ardore diligat, ut carnis v•luntatem, contraria concupiscentem, voluntate spiritus vincat, &c. vid. Aug. de Corrept▪ & Grat. cap. 11. 12.Prima gratia quae data est primo Adam est illa quâ fit ut Homo habeat Iustitiam sivelit; se•unda, quae potentior est in secundo Adam, 〈…〉 potest, quâ etiam fit ut velit, & tantum velit, tantoque ardore diligat, ut carnis v•luntatem, contraria concupiscentem, voluntate spiritus vincat, &c. vid. Aug. de Corrept▪ & Grat. cap. 11. 12.
- *Heb. 3. 1. Rom. 8. 28.
- aVid. Aug. de Corrept. & grat. cap. 9. 12. Contra Julian. lib. 5 cap. 4. De praedest. Sanct. cap. 16. 17. & Epist. 106.Vid. Aug. de Corrept. & grat. cap. 9. 12. Contra Iulian. lib. 5 cap. 4. De praedest. Sanct. cap. 16. 17. & Epist. 106.
- bSubventum est infirmitati voluntatis Humanae, ut Diviná gratiá Inde• & in superabiliter ageretur, &c.—[…] permisit […] vel let, ins• mos […]. Aug. de Corrept. & Grat. cap. 12.Subventum est infirmitati voluntatis Humanae, ut Diviná gratiá Inde• & in superabiliter ageretur, &c.—〈…〉 permisit 〈…〉 vel let, ins• mos 〈…〉. Aug. de Corrept. & Grat. cap. 12.
- cNon lege atque dectrinâ-insonante forins•cus, sed interna atque occulta, mirabili ac ineffabili potestate operatur Deus in cordius hominum, non solm veras Revelationes sed etiam bonas voluntates. Aug. de Grat. Christ. lib. 1. cap. 24 Occulssima & efficacissima potestate. Contr. 2. epist. Pelag. l. 1. c. 20.
