A discourse of the saving grace of God

4. They say, our Doctrine makes God Unjust and Cruel, in Exacting that from Men which they are not able to do; and Condemning them for not doing that which he gives them not strength to do v. g. for requiring Sinners to Believe and Turn to God, and Condemning them for not complying with him herein; when he knows they cannot do it of themselves and when he gives them no Grace to impower them for it. They make large Harangues on this Subject, tending to render their Opposites odious; and se• ⟨p. 117⟩them off with such Similitudes and Illustrations as make Impression on weak Minds, which are more apt to be taken with Words, than to weigh and consider things. Whereas after all, the plain truth is, there is no Doctrine that I know of more chargeable with this, than their own. For it is very evident in Scripture, and in the Nature of the thing, that their swasive Grace does not give Sinners sufficient Power to Believe and Turn to God; it cannot subdue the Corruption of the Heart opposing this: It pretends not to give any new spiritual Principle of Life or Strength for these effects; it leaves the Will in its natural Impotency and Corruption, to do as it list. And therefore, since, by their Doctrine, he gives Sinners no more Power but this, and yet requires them to Believe and Turn to Christ, and Condemns them for not doing it; he Condemns them for want of that which he gives not sufficient Power to do.

4. They say, our Doctrine makes God Ʋnjust and Cruel, in Exacting that from Men which they are not able to do; and Condemning them for not doing that which he gives them not strength to do v. g. for requiring Sinners to Believe and Turn to God, and Condemning them for not complying with him herein; when he knows they cannot do it of themselves and when he gives them no Grace to impower them for it. They make large Harangues on this Subject, tending to render their Opposites odious; and se• ⟨p. 117⟩them off with such Similitudes and Illustrations as make Impression on weak Minds, which are more apt to be taken with Words, than to weigh and consider things. Whereas after all, the plain truth is, there is no Doctrine that I know of more chargeable with this, than their own. For it is very evident in Scripture, and in the Nature of the thing, that their swasive Grace does not give Sinners sufficient Power to Believe and Turn to God; it cannot subdue the Corruption of the Heart opposing this: It pretends not to give any new spiritual Principle of Life or Strength for these effects; it leaves the Will in its natural Impotency and Corruption, to do as it list. And therefore, since, by their Doctrine, he gives Sinners no more Power but this, and yet requires them to Believe and Turn to Christ, and Condemns them for not doing it; he Condemns them for want of that which he gives not sufficient Power to do.