A discourse of the saving grace of God

Can any one imagine, who will not offer plain Violence to a multitude of Expressions in Scripture, that mere Moral Suasion, which does not so much as move the Will out of its indifferent Posture, can Quicken those that are dead in Sins ⟨p. 118⟩and Trespasses? can take away the Heart of Stone, and give Hearts of Flesh; or write his Laws in them; or make those Hearts that are desperately wicked, to become holy and heavenly? Can form new Creatures of the old Man, and make old things pass away, and all things become new? Can give Strength and Life to those who can do nothing, are without Strength and Life?

Can any one imagine, who will not offer plain Violence to a multitude of Expressions in Scripture, that meer Moral Swasion, which does not so much as move the Will out of its indifferent Posture, can Quicken those that are dead in Sins ⟨p. 118⟩and Trespasses? can take away the Heart of Stone, and give Hearts of Flesh; or write his Laws in them; or make those Hearts that are desperately wicked, to become holy and heavenly? Can form new Creatures of the old Man, and make old things pass away, and all things become new? Can give Strength and Life to those who can do nothing, are without Strength and Life?

He that cannot believe this, in opposition to an hundred of such Passages in the Word of God, must believe that their Doctrine, concerning Free-will and Moral Grace, makes God to Condemn more than any, for not doing that which he gives them not Power to do.

5. They say, We destroy the Liberty of the Will, by bringing it under a necessity of inclining one way, and not leaving it indifferent to incline the other, or to suspend its Acts, e. g. When God intends to Convert a Sinner, and puts forth the Power of his Grace for this purpose, it is necessary that the Will incline no other way than his Grace moves it.