Speculum theologiæ in Christo, or, A view of some divine truths which are either…

Now here I shall first prove, That Grace works the actual willing and believing; and then, That it doth it in a way of power.

1. Grace works the actual willing and believing: And here I shall lay down several things.

1. The Scripture is very pregnant. God worketh to will and to do of his good pleasure, Phil. 2.13, [Greek or Hebrew], he worketh efficaciously, not a mere power of willing, but the very willing: Neither doth he work the willing conditionally, if we will; for then the willing should be a condition to it self, which is impossible, and should be before he work• it, which is ⟨p. 280⟩directly opposite to the Text; but he works it absolutely of his own good pleasure. His work doth not depend on mans consent, but it causeth it; neither doth he work it so, as that man in whom he worketh the willing, might actually not will: for a man who wills, must needs will; and a man in whom he works the willing, must needs do so. If a man do not will, then God doth not work the willing; for a willing which is not, is not wrought: in this case nothing is wrought but the power of willing, which satisfies not the Text. If the man in whom he works, do will, the thing is infallible; for a man cannot will and nill both at once: but he worketh the willing so, as that mans willing doth certainly follow upon it. Neither doth he work the willing as a partial concause, for then he should be a cause only ex parte, and do but something towards it, the rest must be not from him, but only from mans will as the author of it; which is to ascribe to mans will, not a merit only, but a kind of Deity, as if it were the sole author of some supernatural good. But he works the willing as a total supreme cause; he causeth man to will: Mans will doth not co-operate, but suboperate under the sweet power of Grace, moving it to will. It is true, man willeth, but it is causally from Grace that he doth so. Mans will is the principium quod which produces the willing; but Gods Grace is the principium quo which causeth it. Hence St. Austin, Nos nolumus,