The Sum of Christian Religion

By this which hath been said, that objection also vanisheth to nothing, when they say, That the converted, seeing they have in their own power to depart from that which is right, and to resist, have also perseverance in their own power. For although he constraineth not or violently draweth their wills, but maketh them of rebels, and enemies, willingly & of their own accord to become the sons of God; and as concerning mens wills in this life, there is nothing more prone than they to evil: yet as touching the counsel, purpose and working of God, evidence of truth constraineth even the adversaries themselves to confess, that it cannot be, but that the will of man must then obey, when God according to his everlasting counsels hath decreed forcibly to move & incline it either to conversion, or to perseverance. ⟨p. 189⟩Neither doth this immutability and efficacy of Gods purpose take away the liberty of will, in the converted, but rather increaseth & preserveth it; and how much the more effectually God moveth it, with so much the greater propension, and readiness it both will and doth good, which the example of the blessed Angels confirmeth. This is also more frivolous, that they say, That the godly are made careless and slothful, and the desire to persevere is diminished in them, if they hear that their perseverance dependeth of the grace of the holy spirit alone. For we may very well invert this and return it upon our adversaries: seeing nothing doth more give an edge unto the saints and those who are indeed godly, to a desire and endeavour to beware of falling, and to a daily and earnest calling upon God, than if they know, that they cannot so much as one moment stand against the tentations of the Devil and their flesh, except by the virtue and instinct of the holy spirit they be withdrawn from evil, and be forcibly moved to good: but contrariwise that opinion as experience teacheth, maketh men careless and less minding to beware of sin, by which men imagine that it is in their own power, to depart from god, listening a while and yielding to their own lusts, and to return again to God, as oft as themselves think good so to do. Now if so be this sentence concerning true perseverance depending of the grace of the holy spirit, breed in the reprobate and profane men a carelessness and contempt of God;

By this which hath beene said, that obiection also vanisheth to nothing, when they say, That the conuerted, seeing they haue in their owne power to depart from that which is right, and to resist, haue also perseueraunce in their owne power. For although hee constraineth not or violently draweth their wils, but maketh them of rebels, and enimies, willingly & of their owne accorde to become the sonnes of God; and as concerning mens wils in this life, there is nothing more prone than they to euill: yet as touching the counsel, purpose and working of God, euidence of truth constraineth euen the aduersaries themselues to confesse, that it cannot be, but that the wil of man must then obey, when God according to his euerlasting counsels hath decreed forcibly to moue & incline it either to conuersion, or to perseuerance.