Vindiciae legis, or, A vindication of the moral law and the covenants, from the…Vindiciae legis, or, A vindication of the morall law and the covenants, from the…

Lastly, none of these workings can be called so properly preparations, or dispositions in themselves, but only intentionally in God. Our Saviour looked on a young man, and loved him, and said, he was not far from the Kingdom of heaven: that is, the life he lived was not far from the Kingdom of heaven; yet this was no preparation in it self to it: nay, he may be further off, as two high hills may be near in the tops to one another, but the bottoms some miles asunder. And this is so great a matter, that great sins are made by God a preparation to some mans conversion, which yet of themselves they could never be: As a child, whose coat is a little dirty, hath it not presently washed; but when he falls wholly all over in the dirt, this may be the cause of the washing of it: so that they are preparations only so far as God intendeth them.

Lastly, none of these workings can be called so properly preparations, or dispositions in themselves, but onely intentionally in God. Our Saviour looked on a young man, and loved him, and said, hee was not farre from the Kingdome of heaven: that is, the life hee lived was not farre from the Kingdome of heaven; yet this was no preparation in it selfe to it: nay, he may be further off, as two high hills may be neer in the tops to one another, but the bottomes some miles asunder. And this is so great a matter, that great sins are made by God a preparation to some mans conversion, which yet of themselves they could never be: As a childe, whose coat is a little dirty, hath it not presently washed; but when he falls wholly all over in the dirt, this may be the cause of the washing of it: so that they are preparations only so far as God intendeth them.

6. All determination to one doth not take away that natural liberty. ¹This will further clear the truth: for it may be thought strange, that there should be this freedom of will in a man, and yet thus determined to one sin only; whereas it's plain, a determination to one kind of acts, good or evil, doth not take away liberty. God can only will that which is good, and so the Angels and Saints confirmed in happiness; yet they do this freely: and so the Devils will that which is wicked only. It's true, some exclaim at such passages, but that is only because they are prepossessed with a false opinion about liberty; for a determination to one may arise from perfection, as well as natural