An end of doctrinal controversies which have lately troubled the churches

§. 28. The Controversy about sufficient Grace is the same in the true meaning of it with that of the Power of Mans Free-will. For when by sufficient Grace we mean nothing but the enabling a Man to the act, or giving him Power to do it, the stress of the Question is, Whether Man hath truly any Power to do more than he doth? For if he have such a Power, Grace hath given it him, if it be for a Work that Grace is needful to. So that indeed were it not for Custom and Expectation, this Question should be handled under that of the Power and Liberty of Man's Will.

§. 28. The Controversie about sufficient Grace is the same in the true meaning of it with that of the Power of Mans Free-will. For when by sufficient Grace we mean nothing but the enabling a Man to the act, or giving him Power to do it, the stress of the Question is, Whether Man hath truly any Power to do more than he doth? For if he have such a Power, Grace hath given it him, if it be for a Work that Grace is needful to. So that indeed were it not for Custom and Expectation, this Question should be handled under that of the Power and Liberty of Man's Will.

§. 29. No man hath at the present Grace sufficient for his Salvation, if he have longer time to live: Because the Grace or help of the present hour is not sufficient for the next, but there must be continual Supplies from God; supposing that we distinguish of Grace by the distinct numerical acts and hours for and in which we need it: But if you distinguish of Grace by the species of Acts for ⟨p. 165⟩which it is needful, and not by the numerical acts, then it may be truly said, that the same Grace (in specie) which a Believer hath to day, may be sufficient to his Salvation, or to his life's end.

§. 30. But if you speak de gradu, that Grace may be sufficient to one thing, which is not sufficient to another: And so, 1. An Infidel may have Grace sufficient to forbear some Sin, or avoid some Temptation, or use some means that tendeth to Faith and Repentance, who hath not Grace sufficient to believe and repent unto Salvation. 2. A man may have Grace sufficient to enable him to believe and repent unto Justification, and yet not have at that instant Grace sufficient to enable him to love God above all as God, with a fixed habitual Love, and to live an holy life (for the Spirit and Sanctification are promised on condition of Faith and Repentance). 3. A sanctified man that is yet but weak, may have Grace sufficient to live to God a holy life at present, and yet not have Grace sufficient for greater trials of Duty and Temptation: And therefore Augustine and all his Followers still say, That the Grace of Perseverance is a Gift over and above the Grace of mere Sanctification in the weakest degree.