A33361:231
A discourse of the saving grace of God
A discourse of the saving grace of God by ... David Clarkson ...
London: printed by J. Astwood for Tho. Parkhurst, 1688
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Thus is God evidently made dependant on Mans Will, even for his Glory, that of his Grace; and he will as soon be subjected to the Will of Man in any thing, in all things, as the greatest Concerns of his Glory.
The Grace of God, where it should appear in its greatest lustre, and was designed for the greatest Honour of Father, Son, and Spirit; must wait as a Handmaid on Mans degenerate Will, and be ordered at its Arbitrement, and stand to its Pleasure, whether it shall come to any thing or nothing; whether it shall have any Glory or none.
Let them believe it who can, I can never believe that the Doctrine is of God, which offers such an intolerable Indignity to him: If there were no other Argument against it, this seems enough to me. The
IV. Fourth Head I propounded, was to give an account of the Objections they make, and the Prejudices they have against the Doctrine of Grace; and to show, the worst they can Object against it is as chargeable upon the Doctrine of Freewill. So that their embracing it seems to proceed from neglect of Impartial Consideration, and some want of the Exercise of that Reason which they so much magnify. That uses not to be counted a rational and considerate Invention, which serves not the turn for which it was devised, but runs them into the same difficulties which they seek to avoid. Let us see briefly in two or three of the chief Instances, whether this be not the Case here.