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…

yet Conversion and Faith do follow the absolute Decree of God after a much different manner; sins do follow infallibly indeed, but only by a necessity of consequence; that is, God not at all causing or effecting, but only permitting: but Faith and good Works follow by a necessity of the consequent, as of which God must most properly be called the Author, according to all Divines: For no man ever said that men did believe, were segenerate, and turned to God; did good works (God only ⟨p. 19⟩permitting, but causing and working. But if this be granted to us (as needs it must) that Faith and Conversion do follow the absolute decree of God by a necessity of the consequent; that is, a necessity causing and co-working: I see not how it can be denied, that it is wrought in us after an irresistible manner. For when any Agent so worketh upon the patient, that it necessarily overcomes it, it is properly said to work irresistibly. In like manner God, if he so convert a sinner, that he is necessarily Converted, by a necessity of the consequent then he converts it irresistibly, that is after such a manner, as the patient must needs yield; from whence I wonder, that those who deny election, to depend on foreseen faith, do yet defend that conversion is wrought after a resistible manner, and so as it may be frustrated.

yet Conversion and Faith doe follow the absolute Decree of God after a much different manner; sinnes do follow infallibly indeed, but onely by a necessity of consequence; that is, God not at all causing or effecting, but onely permitting: but Faith and good Works follow by a necessity of the consequent, as of which God must most properly be called the Author, according to all Divines: For no man ever said that men did believe, were segenerate, and turned to God; did good works (God onely ⟨p. 19⟩permitting, but causing and working. But if this be granted to us (as needs it must) that Faith and Conversion do follow the absolute decree of God by a necessity of the consequent; that is, a necessity causing and co-working: I see not how it can be denyed, that it is wrought in us after an irresistble manner. For when any Agent so worketh upon the patient, that it necessarily overcomes it, it is properly said to work irresistibly. In like manner God, if he so convert a sinner, that he is necessarily Converted, by a necessity of the consequent then he converts it irresistibly, that is after such a manner, as the patient must needs yeld; from whence I wonder, that those who deny election, to depend on foreseen faith, doe yet defend that conversion is wrought after a resistible manner, and so as it may be frustrated.