P. Saul, You hear what this man hath to say against us. You hear that when he hath cried out against Preparations to Believing, that here are ten several Preparations which he cannot deny. I will now tell you what is our Doctrine and the truth, about Preparations.
We hold that Christ is the True Light who lighteth every man that cometh to God; but in various degrees, by various means: He is the Lord of Nature as its Restorer, Rom. 14. 9. All power in Heaven and Earth is given to him, and all things put into his hand, Matth. 28. 18, 19. John 17. 2, 3. John 5. 22. He teacheth those that have not the Gospel, (and those that have it, first) by the Light of Nature, many Natural Truths, as that there is a God who is Almighty, Wise and Good, that we owe him our Love and duty, that he is Just, &c. As the Sun enlighteneth the earth at its rising before it appear it self, so doth Christ the world. By the Gospel, he teacheth us more, even supernatural truths, about himself and our Redemption, &c. Some commoner co-operation of his Spirit goeth along with the Gospel, convincing and moving many that are not yet (or at all) converted: Those that Christ converteth savingly, are first in order brought to understand the Meaning of the word, and next to Believe the Truth of it, and so to Believe what Christ is, and what he hath done and suffered for us, and what need we have of him by sin and misery, and how freely he is offered to our salvation: And they are moved so seriously to consider all this, till it prevail with their wills, first to desire not only their own deliverance from Hell and misery, as all men may do, but also from a state of sin; and then to desire Christ as a Saviour to effect it, and bring them home to God: And believing that he is freely offered to them, they next thankfully Accept him by consent, and Trust him and give themselves to him. And all this is Christs own work upon them: but in this order and by these degrees. So that coming to Christ signifieth divers acts, of which one is preparatory to the other.
And whereas he tells you, that we keep men off from Christ till they are prepared, judge you whether he speak truth or falsehood. Do we use to call to sinners and say [Do not believe that Christ Reconcileth God and man till you first believe that there is a God.
P. Saul, You hear what this man hath to say against us. You hear that when he hath cryed out against Preparations to Believing, that here are ten several Preparations which he cannot deny. I will now tell you what is our Doctrine and the truth, about Preparations.
We hold that Christ is the True Light who lighteth every man that cometh to God; but in various degrees, by various means: He is the Lord of Nature as its Restorer, Rom. 14. 9. All power in Heaven and Earth is given to him, and all things put into his hand, Matth. 28. 18, 19. John 17. 2, 3. John 5. 22. He teacheth those that have not the Gospel, (and those that have it, first) by the Light of Nature, many Natural Truths, as that there is a God who is Almighty, Wise and Good, that we owe him our Love and duty, that he is Just, &c. As the Sun enlightneth the earth at its rising before it appear it self, so doth Christ the world. By the Gospel, he teacheth us more, even supernatural truths, about himself and our Redemption, &c. Some commoner co-operation of his Spirit goeth along with the Gospel, convincing and moving many that are not yet (or at all) converted: Those that Christ converteth savingly, are first in order brought to understand the Meaning of the word, and next to Believe the Truth of it, and so to Believe what Christ is, and what he hath done and suffered for us, and what need we have of him by sin and misery, and how freely he is offered to our salvation: And they are moved so seriously to consider all this, till it prevail with their wills, first to desire not only their own deliverance from Hell and misery, as all men may do, but also from a state of sin; and then to desire Christ as a Saviour to effect it, and bring them home to God: And believing that he is freely offered to them, they next thankfully Accept him by consent, and Trust him and give themselves to him. And all this is Christs own work upon them: but in this order and by these degrees. So that coming to Christ signifieth divers acts, of which one is preparatory to the other.
And whereas he tells you, that we keep men off from Christ till they are prepared, judge you whether he speak truth or falshood. Do we use to call to sinners and say [Do not believe that Christ Reconcileth God and man till you first believe that there is a God.
