But in the Conclusion, I must say, that even in this point of notable difference between the Remonstrants, and the Contra-remonstrants, the difference is not so great as some imagine or pretend. It is confessed by the understanding sort on both sides, that Christ at his death had a special intention to bring certain individual persons to a state of Justification and Salvation. But then they say that this was only upon the foresight of their believing: yea, some of them say that God purposed to give the grace of Faith to some individuals only, but they say that it was upon the foresight of their non-resistance, or of their voluntary disposedness to receive it, or of their right use of former preparing grace; so that the same decree, as to these gifts, is confessed on both sides; and it cannot be denied but that the ⟨p. 502⟩foresight which they presuppose is from Eternity, and therefore Mans fall, or Christs Mediatorship; and that there is no priority or posteriority of Time between the foreknowledge and the Decree, but only in Nature: And then it is commonly confessed that though Knowledge and Will in Man are two things, yet in God they are but one; and are only distinguished denomination extrinsecâ by Man for the accommodation of his narrow imperfect apprehension. Therefore (though) I confess that a difference still remaineth, yet let it not be thought to be greater than it is.
But in the Conclusion, I must say, that even in this point of notable difference between the Remonstrants, and the Contra-remonstrants, the difference is not so great as some imagine or pretend. It is confessed by the understanding sort on both sides, that Christ at his death had a special intention to bring certain individual persons to a state of Justification and Salvation. But then they say that this was only upon the foresight of their believing: yea, some of them say that God purposed to give the grace of Faith to some individuals only, but they say that it was upon the foresight of their non-resistance, or of their voluntary disposedness to receive it, or of their right use of former preparing grace; so that the same decree, as to these gifts, is confessed on both sides; and it cannot be denyed but that the ⟨p. 502⟩foresight which they presuppose is from Eternity, and therefore Mans fall, or Christs Mediatorship; and that there is no priority or posteriority of Time between the foreknowledge and the Decree, but only in Nature: And then it is commonly confessed that though Knowledge and Will in Man are two things, yet in God they are but one; and are only distinguished denominatione extrinsecâ by Man for the accommodation of his narrow imperfect apprehension. Therefore (though) I confess that a difference still remaineth, yet let it not be thought to be greater than it is.
