A discourse of the saving grace of God

That they are as liable to this Charge, if it be just, does thus appear. He that puts Men in those Circumstances, wherein he foresees that they will certainly sin, orders things so, that Sin becomes unavoidable: But by their Doctrine, the Lord decrees to place Men, and by his Providence disposes them in those Circumstances, wherein he foresees they will certainly sin; e. g. The Lord foresaw, that if Adam was Created so and so, and set in such Circumstances, he would certainly Sin and Fall by it: Yet foreseeing this, the Lord decreed to Create him so, and dispose of him in such Circumstances, and actually did it. He foresees, that if Peter be put in those Circumstances wherein he was found in the High-Priest's Hall, he would certainly deny his Master: But he Decreed thus to dispose of him, and by his Providence actually did it. This is the plain Import of their Doctrine concerning a Conditional Foreknowledge in God, as will be evident to any that understand ⟨p. 114⟩it. It was an Invention of the Jesuits the last Age, to make good their Doctrine of Free-will and Moral Grace, and to avoid the supposed Inconveniences of the opposite Doctrine; and is commonly embraced by those who agree with the Jesuits in their Opinion about the Power of the Will: But a very imprudent and unhappy Device it was, since it involves them in those very Absurdities, which it was devised to avoid.

That they are as liable to this Charge, if it be just, does thus appear. He that puts Men in those Circumstances, wherein he foresees that they will certainly sin, orders things so, that Sin becomes unavoidable: But by their Doctrine, the Lord decrees to place Men, and by his Providence disposes them in those Circumstances, wherein he foresees they will certainly sin; e. g. The Lord foresaw, that if Adam was Created so and so, and set in such Circumstances, he would certainly Sin and Fall by it: Yet foreseeing this, the Lord decreed to Create him so, and dispose of him in such Circumstances, and actually did it. He foresees, that if Peter be put in those Circumstances wherein he was found in the High-Priest's Hall, he would certainly deny his Master: But he Decreed thus to dispose of him, and by his Providence actually did it. This is the plain Import of their Doctrine concerning a Conditional Foreknowledge in God, as will be evident to any that understand ⟨p. 114⟩it. It was an Invention of the Jesuits the last Age, to make good their Doctrine of Free-will and Moral Grace, and to avoid the supposed Inconveniences of the opposite Doctrine; and is commonly imbraced by those who agree with the Jesuits in their Opinion about the Power of the Will: But a very imprudent and unhappy Device it was, since it involves them in those very Absurdities, which it was devised to avoid.