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…

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.

6. They say, That the Will excited by Grace doth properly work together with God, is a co-ordinate joynt-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 principall 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 turnes it selfe unto God.

7. They deferred, That God cannot convert us in an irresistible way, unless w ebe turned into stocks and blocks, and so being driven with a continual motion, we act nothing, but God all in us. On the other side, we say, that stocks and stones have no power to act, being acted; but that men are free Agents, and therefore have a power by virtue of which they act, being acted by God, and therefore may be said truly to act, and turn themselves; for the will being changed from evil unto good, and of unwilling made willing, hath in it self an inward principle of willing well; from whence the dominion of its own act, whereby it turns unto God, may properly be given unto it; for although the grace of God is the principle by which, yet the will of man is the principle which worketh all. In like manner, although God be the first and total efficient cause of conversion, yet the Will is the next efficient cause, and total also in the kind of second causes; therefore, as the effects are wont to be attributed unto second and created causes, although they act by virtue of the first cause, so conversion is most properly to be attributed unto the Will, although it act wholly in the strength of God and converting Grace.