The divine life in three treatises

I answer, Our speeches of God being borrowed from man, (who is one of the Glasses in which he is here seen by us; especially the manhood of Jesus Christ) We must accordingly conceive ⟨p. 79⟩and say (acknowledging still the improprieties and imperfections of our conceptions and expressions) that as man doth simply and most properly will the Event of some things which he absolutely desireth should come to pass, and doth not simply will some other things, but only in tantum; he so far willeth them, that he willeth and resolveth to do such and such things as have a tendency thereto, and to go no farther, and do no more for the attaining of them, though he could; so God doth simply and properly will some things, that is, the things which he Decreeth shall come to pass: but we must after our manner conceive and say, that there are other things which he willeth but in tantum, so far as to make it mans Duty to perform it, and persuade him to the doing of that duty, and give him such a measure of help as leaveth him without any just excuse, if he do it not; and so far he willeth the salvation of such, as to Promise or offer it them on such terms: and no further doth he will the obedience or salvation which never comes to pass, but leaveth it here to the will of man. For if he simply willed that every Duty should be Eventually done, it would be done: and if he simply willed that all men should be actually saved, they would be saved. And that he simply willeth their Duty or Obligation, and in tantum, so far, doth will the event of their obedience and salvation, as this comes to, as aforesaid, is certain, and in this we are all agreed; and I am not so well skilled in dividing as to understand where the real difference lieth between the parties that here most contend: But about the bare Name I know they differ, some thinking that this last is not to be Named an Act of Gods will, or a willing of mans obedience or salvation, and some thinking that it is so to be named: who doubtless are in the right; nor is there room for controversies, while we confess the impropriety of this and all our speeches of God, as speaking after the manner of men, and while Scripture that must teach us how to speak of God, doth frequently so speak before us.

I answer, Our speeches of God being borrowed from man, (who is one of the Glasses in which he is here seen by us; especially the manhood of Jesus Christ) We must accordingly conceive ⟨p. 79⟩