A55751:48
The position of John Preston, Doctor in Divinity ... concerning the irresistibleness of converting…The position of John Preston, Doctor in Divinity ... concerning the irresistiblenesse of converting…
The position of John Preston, Doctor in Divinity ... concerning the irresistibleness of converting graceThe position of John Preston, Doctor in Divinity ... concerning the irresistiblenesse of converting grace
London: printed by J.G. for Nath. Webb and Will. Grantham, 1654
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.
These things being premised, I will now briefly lay down what our opinion is: But that our judgement may be throughly understood; we must know that the conversion of a man is perfected in these four degrees:
These things being premised, I will now briefly lay downe what our opinion is: But that our judgement may be throughly understood; we must know that the conversion of a man is perfected in these four degrees:
1. God infuseth into the whole Soul, and so into the Will, a habit or quality of holiness, renewing it, and making it, of evil good, of unwilling willing; by which means, that which belongs to the nature of the Will, is preserved entire, but that which was corrupt is rectified.
1. God infuseth into the whole Soule, and so into the Will, a habit or quality of holinesse, renewing it, and making it, of evill good, of unwilling willing; by which meanes, that which belongs to the nature of the Will, is preserved entire, but that which was corrupt is rectified.
2. From this quality so infused, presently there arise in the Will, certain imperfect inclinations, preventing the notice of reason, like unto those which the School-men call the very first Motions of the heart: For by these the will doth not completely, and effectually will that which is good, but is only initially, and incompletely inclined to those good works which please God, from whence such acts may be called, not so much willings, as wishings and wouldings.
2. From this quality so infused, presently there arise in the Will, certaine imperfect inclinations, preventing the notice of reason, like unto those which the School-men call the very first Motions of the heart: For by these the will doth not compleatly, and effectually will that which is good, but is onely initially, and incompleatly inclined to those good workes which please God, from whence such acts may be called, not so much willings, as wishings and wouldings.