5. If God do not work Conversion in an insuperable way, then what doth he produce towards it but a mere posse converter? According to the Remonstrants Doctrine, he doth not infuse Habits or vital Principles of Grace, neither will they in plain direct terms assert, that he doth produce actual Conversion; what then doth he produce towards it but a mere posse converter? and is not a posse peccare from him also? Voluntatem (say the Remonstrants) comitatur 1proprietas inseparabilis, quam libertatem vocamus, à qua Voluntas dicitur esse potentia, quae positis omnibus praerequisitis ad agendum necessariis, potest velle & nolle, ant velle & non velle. And again: Semper & in omni statu hujus vitae (ubi legislatio, praemiorum promissio, poenarum interminatio, hortationes, preces & similia locum habent) voluit Deus libertatem Voluntati adesse, quâ objectū ab intellectu monstratū velle potest & nolle, aut velle & non velle. Surely if the Nature and inseparable Property ⟨p. 495⟩of the Will be such, and such by the Will of God, then according to the Remonstrants Doctrine, a posse peccare is from God as the Author of Nature, as well as a posse converter is from him as the Author of Grace; and by consequence it follows, that he doth act as far towards Transgression, as towards Conversion. No, by no means, will you say, it cannot be; for God by his Commands, Promises and the Spirit's Motions doth promote Conversion, but by his Prohibitions, Threatenings and the Spirit's Counter-motions doth beat back Transgression. Very well: these things show that God's Actings touching Conversion and Transgression are not the same as to the Manner, nevertheless they still remain the same as to the Terminus or product: For after all the Commands, Promises and Motions towards Conversion, still the Terminus or Product is but a posse converter; and notwithstanding all the Prohibitions, Threatenings and Motions against Transgression, still there is the Terminus or Product of a posse peccare, and by consequence he acts as far towards Transgression as towards Conversion. Will you yet reply, that God gives a posse converter, and without this, Man could not ⟨p. 496⟩convert, and when he doth actually convert, God concurs thereunto. I answer, that according to the Remonstrants Doctrine, God gives a posse peccare also, and without this, Man could not sin;
5. If God do not work Conversion in an insuperable way, then what doth he produce towards it but a mere posse convertere? According to the Remonstrants Doctrine, he doth not infuse Habits or vital Principles of Grace, neither will they in plain direct terms assert, that he doth produce actual Conversion; what then doth he produce towards it but a mere posse convertere? and is not a posse peccare from him also? Voluntatem (say the Remonstrants) comitatur 1proprietas inseparabilis, quam libertatem vocamus, à qua Voluntas dicitur esse potentia, quae positis omnibus praerequisitis ad agendum necessariis, potest velle & nolle, ant velle & non velle. And again: Semper & in omni statu hujus vitae (ubi legislatio, praemiorum promissio, poenarum interminatio, hortationes, preces & similia locum habent) voluit Deus libertatem Voluntati adesse, quâ objectū ab intellectu monstratū velle potest & nolle, aut velle & non velle. Surely if the Nature and inseparable Property ⟨p. 495⟩of the Will be such, and such by the Will of God, then according to the Remonstrants Doctrine, a posse peccare is from God as the Author of Nature, as well as a posse convertere is from him as the Author of Grace; and by consequence it follows, that he doth act as far towards Transgression, as towards Conversion. No, by no means, will you say, it cannot be; for God by his Commands, Promises and the Spirit's Motions doth promote Conversion, but by his Prohibitions, Threatnings and the Spirit's Counter-motions doth beat back Transgression. Very well: these things shew that God's Actings touching Conversion and Transgression are not the same as to the Manner, nevertheless they still remain the same as to the Terminus or product: For after all the Commands, Promises and Motions towards Conversion, still the Terminus or Product is but a posse convertere; and notwithstanding all the Prohibitions, Threatnings and Motions against Transgression, still there is the Terminus or Product of a posse peccare, and by consequence he acts as far towards Transgression as towards Conversion. Will you yet reply, that God gives a posse convertere, and without this, Man could not ⟨p. 496⟩convert, and when he doth actually convert, God concurrs thereunto. I answer, that according to the Remonstrants Doctrine, God gives a posse peccare also, and without this, Man could not sin;
- 1Act. Synodal. Art. 3 & 4.
