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…

5. They say, That the Will stirred up by quickening grace, may act or not act, turn to God or not; but otherwise it were not free: for they hold liberty to stand in this, That granting all things required, or all the actings of God, the Will may act or not, whence is that of Corvinus against Tilenus, pag. 337. Grace doth not so furnish the Will with strength, but that it always remains in the power of the Will to use it or not use it. We, on the contrary, say, That the VVill cannot resist or withstand the real motion proceeding from Grace, nor the divine persuasion offered to it by an enlightened understanding, but doth necessarily follow the guidance of God, according to that of S. Augustine, Free-will cannot resist God in the work of salvation.

5. They say, That the Will stirred up by quickning grace, may act or not act, turne to God or not; but otherwise it were not free: for they hold liberty to stand in this, That granting all things required, or all the actings of God, the Will may act or not, whence is that of Corvinus against Tilenus, pag. 337. Grace doth not so furnish the Will with strength, but that it alwayes remaines in the power of the Will to use it or not use it. We, on the contrary, say, That the VVill cannot resist or withstand the reall motion proceeding from Grace, nor the divine perswasion offered to it by an enlightened understanding, but doth necessarily follow the guidance of God, according to that of S. Augustine, Free-will cannot resist God in the work of salvation.

6. They say, That the Will excited by Grace doth properly work together with God, is a co-ordinate joint-cause, a partial Concomitant-cause, and hath such an influence into the effect, that if it be withheld, the effect in no wise can follow. We, on the contrary, say, That the Will, indeed, doth co-operate, but as a cause every way subordinate and wholly subject to the dominion ⟨p. 9⟩of God as the principal agent, insomuch that it cannot properly be called a co-worker; but rather it acts as it is acted, move as it is moved, and being first turned into God, it turns it self unto God.