The Method of Grace

Let the soul whom the father draws struggle and reluctate ¹as much as it can, it shall come, yea, and come willingly too, when the drawing power of God is upon it. O the self-conflicts, the contrary resolves with which the soul finds it self distracted and rent asunder! the hopes and fears, the encouragements and discouragements, they will, and they will not! but victorious grace conquers ⟨p. 77⟩all opposition at last. We find an excellent example of this in blessed Augustine ^*who speaks of this very work, the drawing of his soul to Christ, and how he f•lt in that day two wills in himself, one old, the other ne•; one carnal, the other spiritual, and how in these their contrary motions and conflicts he was torn asunder in his own thoughts and resolutions, suffering that unwillingly, which he did willingly. And certainly if we consider how deep the soul is rooted by natural inclination, and long continued custom in sin, how extremely averse it is to the ways of strict godliness and mortification, how Satan that invidious enemy, that strong man armed fortifies the soul to defend his possession against Christ, and entrenches himself in the understanding, will, and affections; by deep rooted prejudices against Christ and holiness, it is the wonder of wonders to see a soul quitting all its beloved lusts and fleshly interests and endearments, and coming willingly under Christs yoke.

Let the soul whom the father draws struggle and reluctate ¹as much as it can, it shall come, yea, and come willingly too, when the drawing power of God is upon it. O the self-conflicts, the contrary resolves with which the soul finds it self distracted and rent asunder! the hopes and fears, the incouragements and discouragements, they will, and they will not! but victorious grace conquers ⟨p. 77⟩all opposition at last. We find an excellent example of this in blessed Augustine