Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

What is the reason, he did not reach out his hand to keep all the Angels from sinking, as well as some, or recover them, when they were sunk? What is the reason, he engrafts one man into the true Vine, and lets another remain a wild Olive? Why is not the efficacy of the Spirit always linked with the motions of the Spirit? Why doth he not mould the Heart into a Gospel frame, when he fills the Ear with a Gospel sound? Why doth he strike off the chains from some, and tear the veil from the Heart, while he leaves others under their natural slavery, and Egyptian darkness? Why do some lie under the bands of death, while another is raised to a spiritual life? What reason is there for all this but his absolute Will? The Apostle resolves the question, if the question be asked, why he begets one, and not another? Not from the Will of the Creature, but his own Will is the determination of one. James 1.18. Why doth he work in one, to will, and to do, and not in another? Because of his good pleasure, is the answer of another. Phil. 2.13. He could as well new create every one, as he at first created them, and make Grace as universal as Nature and Reason, but it is not his pleasure so to do.

What is the reason, he did not reach out his hand to keep all the Angels from sinking, as well as some, or recover them, when they were sunk? What is the reason, he engrafts one man into the true Vine, and lets another remain a wild Olive? Why is not the efficacy of the Spirit always linkt with the motions of the Spirit? Why doth he not mould the Heart into a Gospel frame, when he fills the Ear with a Gospel sound? Why doth he strike off the chains from some, and tear the vail from the Heart, while he leaves others under their natural slavery, and Aegyptian darkness? Why do some lie under the bands of death, while another is rais'd to a spiritual life? What reason is there for all this but his absolute Will? The Apostle resolves the question, if the question be askt, why he begets one, and not another? Not from the Will of the Creature, but his own Will is the determination of one. James 1.18. Why doth he work in one, to will, and to do, and not in another? Because of his good pleasure, is the answer of another. Phil. 2.13