Is this the Doctrine of general Love which they will have to be in God to Mankind? viz. Hath the Lord left it indifferent in his Eternal Purpose, whether any should be saved, or no? For if the Will complies not, God will not bend it, or bring it, by irresistible Grace, in a Physical Way, to a Compliance: and though Christ, in redemption, according to them, died for all, yet he hath left it indifferent whether any should be actually redeemed, or no; for the depraved Will of Man determines the whole Event of all that which Christ hath done, and the Gospel, or the Spirit doth do: and if some Men were not better natured, and more considerate than others, Christ might have died in vain. And it follows also that such who are saved, have more cause to admire their Wills compliance in believing, than to exalt and admire the free Grace of God, if what they say be true. Alas, this general Love of God they talk of, (that is but an indifferent respect to all or any, for all are beloved alike, or else God is a respectre of Persons, ⟨p. 159⟩they say) ends in Love or Hatred, as the Sinner's Will determines it: If the Will accepts, chooses and yields to Christ, then the Person is beloved and chosen by Him; but if the Will refuses, (as the Will of every Mortal might, as well as one, according to their Notion) then he is hated: Whatever particular Love they ascribe to God, it is no other than what rises or is occasioned from the Sinner's Love to him. God foresaw that such and such Persons would believe and love him, therefore purposed to save them: he foresaw that they would embrace, choose, and love Christ, therefore he loved them and chose them to Eternal Life; provided they continue their Good-liking and Affections to God unto the End. How they will be able to deliver themselves from these and such like Consequents from attending their Notions, I see not. The Apostle says, We love him, because he first loved us; and that 1we have not chosen him, but he hath chosen us: But certainly if these Men consider their Principles, when they speak of particular Persons, they must say, he did not love us first, but we loved him; and that he did not chose us first, but we chose him. And thus the Doctrine of God's Free Grace is trampled upon; but let God be true, and every Man a Liar.
Is this the Doctrine of general Love which they will have to be in God to Mankind? viz. Hath the Lord left it indifferent in his Eternal Purpose, whether any should be saved, or no? For if the Will complies not, God will not bend it, or bring it, by irresistible Grace, in a Physical Way, to a Compliance: and though Christ, in redemption, according to them, died for all, yet he hath left it indifferent whether any should be actually redeemed, or no; for the depraved Will of Man determines the whole Event of all that which Christ hath done, and the Gospel, or the Spirit doth do: and if some Men were not better natured, and more considerate than others, Christ might have died in vain. And it follows also that such who are saved, have more cause to admire their Wills compliance in believing, than to exalt and admire the free Grace of God, if what they say be true. Alas, this general Love of God they talk of, (that is but an indifferent respect to all or any, for all are beloved alike, or else God is a respecter of Persons, ⟨p. 159⟩they say) ends in Love or Hatred, as the Sinner's Will determines it: If the Will accepts, chuses and yields to Christ, then the Person is beloved and chosen by Him; but if the Will refuses, (as the Will of every Mortal might, as well as one, according to their Notion) then he is hated: Whatever particular Love they ascribe to God, it is no other than what rises or is occasioned from the Sinner's Love to him. God foresaw that such and such Persons would believe and love him, therefore purposed to save them: he foresaw that they would embrace, chuse, and love Christ, therefore he loved them and chose them to Eternal Life; provided they continue their Good-liking and Affections to God unto the End. How they will be able to deliver themselves from these and such like Consequents from attending their Notions, I see not. The Apostle says, We love him, because he first loved us; and that 1we have not chosen him, but he hath chosen us: But certainly if these Men consider their Principles, when they speak of particular Persons, they must say, he did not love us first, but we loved him; and that he did not chose us first, but we chose him. And thus the Doctrine of God's Free Grace is trampled upon; but let God be true, and every Man a Liar.
