A discourse of the saving grace of God

And in this sense of Merit, the modern Asserters of Free-will would have all Grace given, according to Merit. How universal soever they make Grace to be, yet no man shall have it unless he merit it. That Grace may be Universal, they will have it communicated both to those that are without the Gospel, and to those that enjoy ⟨p. 44⟩it. For those who have not the Gospel, he is ready to give all of them the Grace of the Gospel, if they will use the Light of Nature well; and he does give it actually to those, who by the good use of their Free-will, make such an improvement of natural Light. Here the good use of natural Light is a good act; and upon the account of that, the Grace of the Gospel is given, i. e, this Grace is given according to Merit, in the sense of the Fathers, who counted it so execrable to have it given according to Merit. Those (say the Remonstrants) whom God calleth, and to whom he does vouchsafe the Grace of Preaching, we confess, for the most part, to be such men, that their Virtues do deserve no less. Epist. contr. Walach. p. 44.

And in this sence of Merit, the modern Asserters of Free-will would have all Grace given, according to Merit. How universal soever they make Grace to be, yet no man shall have it unless he merit it. That Grace may be Universal, they will have it communicated both to those that are without the Gospel, and to those that enjoy ⟨p. 44⟩it. For those who have not the Gospel, he is ready to give all of them the Grace of the Gospel, if they will use the Light of Nature well; and he does give it actually to those, who by the good use of their Free-will, make such an improvement of natural Light. Here the good use of natural Light is a good act; and upon the account of that, the Grace of the Gospel is given, i. e, this Grace is given according to Merit, in the sense of the Fathers, who counted it so execrable to have it given according to Merit. Those (say the Remonstrants) whom God calleth, and to whom he does vouchsafe the Grace of Preaching, we confess, for the most part, to be such men, that their Vertues do deserve no less. Epist. contr. Walach. p. 44.