I. Scripture-light the most sure light ... delivered in three sermons on 2 Pet.…

But this cannot be: for the thing is not true, viz. That all men have a sufficiency of Grace by Christ, to believe on him: for if all the men of the World have such a Power from Christ to believe on him, then, 1. The Jews had a Power to abstain from their Unbelief, in putting Christ to death, and yet they had this Power from the Death of Christ; and if so, then it was possible that Christ should not have died by the hand of their Unbelief, and yet possible by virtue of Christs Death, for them to abstain from the putting him to death, which is a Contradiction: Neither can it be said, that they had this Power given them upon the fore-sight of Christs Death; for the same fore-sight, did fore-see that Christ should be put to death by the hand of their Unbelief. 2. If all men have such a Power to believe in Christ, then either they must have an inward Principle of Grace and Faith; or they can act without an inward Principle: but they have no inward Principle of Faith and Grace, for then they should be Believers; for it is the inward habit, and principle, which denominates the man, and not this, or that act, for a man is a Believer, though he be asleep: Nor can any Creature put forth an act without an inward Principle suitable to the Act; the Eye cannot act in seeing, without an inward Principle of sight; nor the Ear hear, without an inward principle of hearing: the Herb cannot grow, without an inward principle of growth; nor the Beast move, without an inward principle of motion; nor any Creature act, without a precedent inward principle: But all the men of the World, have not an inward principle ⟨p. 106⟩of Faith and Grace; and therefore all the men of the World have not a power to believe. 3. The Apostle Paul, tells us plainly, that a Natural man receiveth not the things of God, neither can he, 1. Cor. 3.1•. but if he have a power to believe, then he can receive them; for receiving is our believing, 1 John, 12. Neither can it be said, that by the Natural man, we are to understand the weak Christian; for if the weak Christian cannot receive the things of God, much less the wicked, and the pure Natural man: nor doth the Apostle speak of a Natural Man, as he is merely considered in the state of Nature, abstracted from all Gospel Grace, and the means of Grace;

But this cannot be: for the thing is not true, viz. That al men have a sufficiency of Grace by Christ, to beleeve on him: for if al the men of the World have such a Power from Christ to beleeve on him, then, 1. The Jews had a Power to abstain from their Unbelief, in putting Christ to death, and yet they had this Power from the Death of Christ; and if so, then it was possible that Christ should not have died by the hand of their Unbelief, and yet possible by vertue of Christs Death, for them to abstain from the putting him to death, which is a Contradiction: Neither can it be said, that they had this Power given them upon the fore-sight of Christs Death; for the same fore-sight, did fore-see that Christ should be put to death by the hand of their Unbelief. 2. If al men have such a Power to beleeve in Christ, then either they must have an inward Principle of Grace and Faith; or they can act without an inward Principle: but they have no inward Principle of Faith and Grace, for then they should be Beleevers; for it is the inward habit, and principle, which denominates the man, and not this, or that act, for a man is a Beleever, though he be asleep: Nor can any Creature put forth an act without an inward Principle suitable to the Act; the Eye cannot act in seeing, without an inward Principle of sight; nor the Ear hear, without an inward principle of hearing: the Herb cannot grow, without an inward principle of growth; nor the Beast move, without an inward principle of motion; nor any Creature act, without a precedent inward principle: But al the men of the World, have not an inward principle