A55305:681
The divine will considered in its eternal decrees, and holy execution of them. By…
The divine will considered in its eternal decrees, and holy execution of them. By Edward Polhill of Burwash in Sussex Esquire
London : printed, and are to be sold by Thomas Shelmerdine, at the sign of the Rose-Tree in Little-Britain, 1695
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
1. God by a virtual or ordinative Will doth will the Turning and Salvation of all Men within the Bosom of the Church; for they have Jesus Christ set before their Eyes, and what was the true End of Christ's coming, but to turn every one from his iniquities, Acts 3. 26? They have the Gospel preached unto them; there we have God spreading out his hands all the day, standing and knocking at the door of the heart, crying out with redoubled Calls, Turn ye, turn ye, why will ye die? Wooing and beseeching men, be ye reconciled unto me; making his salvation bringing grace appear unto all men, even to the Non-elect themselves, and causing the kingdom of God ⟨p. 526⟩to come nigh unto men, even to such as for the rejection thereof have the dust of their city wiped off against them; and what is the meaning of all this, if God no way will their Conversion? Take away God's ordinative Will, and then God (as to the Non-elect) spreads out his hands of Mercy that he may shut them; knocks, that he may be barred out; cries and beseeches, that he may not be heard; makes his Grace appear and Kingdom come nigh, that it may be rejected, and not received: All which is to evacuate Scripture and put a lye upon the offers of Grace. Neither will it salve the business, to say, there is a Voluntas signi in all this; for what is Voluntas signi, if it be not signum Voluntatis? If it be only an outward Sign or Appearance, and there be no Counterpane or Prototype thereof within the divine Will, how is it a true Sign? Which way could it be breathed out from God's Heart? When God makes his great Gospel-supper, and says, Come, for all things are ready, he is not, he cannot be like him with the evil eye, who saith, Eat and drink, but his heart is not with thee, Prov. 23. 6, 7. No, God's Heart goes along with every Offer of Grace; he never calls but in a serious ⟨p. 527⟩manner: And therefore unbelieving and impenitent Persons are in Scripture said, not only to reject the Means; but to receive the grace of God in vain, 2 Cor. 6. 1. to reject the counsel of God against themselves,