To this I answer, that the scope of all places in scripture 1is, to show that if men will come in, there shall be no impedient upon Gods part, and they show that he is full of mercy and compassion, the fault shall be in their own stubbornness and contempt, and these declare that it is more acceptable to God to save them, then to condemn them, and that he is full of mercy and ready to forgive, that he hath such a disposition as was in the father of the Prodigal. This I say is the main scope of those and such like places of Scripture. But there is a double consideration of the will of God, it is either simply considered, and so to believe and repent and obey, all these are pleasing to ⟨p. 422⟩him, for it cannot be but when any object is put into the will of any, if it be suitable and agreeable to the will, it must needs •well-pleasing to it, and therefore God being Holy and pure must needs be delighted in the faith and repentance and obedience of his creature, but then there is a secret will of God, by which he dispenseth to man an ability to believe, and this he giveth to some and not to others, for reasons best known to himself, and in this consideration all those places of Scripture are to be taken and considered, that he will have mercy on whom he will, and whom he will he hardeneth, and that it is not in him that runneth, but in God that showeth mercy; so that according to the first consideration we must understand that it is acceptable to God to have men to believe.
To this I answer, that the scope of all places in scripture 1is, to shew that if men will come in, there shall be no impedient upon Gods part, and they shew that he is full of mercy and compassion, the fault shall be in their own stubborness and contempt, and these declare that it is more acceptable to God to save them, then to condemn them, and that he is full of mercy and ready to forgive, that he hath such a disposition as was in the father of the Prodigal. This I say is the main scope of those and such like places of Scripture. But there is a double consideration of the will of God, it is either simply considered, and so to believe and repent and obey, all these are pleasing to ⟨p. 422⟩him, for it cannot be but when any object is put into the will of any, if it be suitable and agreeable to the will, it must needs •well-pleasing to it, and therefore God being Holy and pure must needs be delighted in the faith and repentance and obedience of his creature, but then there is a secret will of God, by which he dispenseth to man an ability to believe, and this he giveth to some and not to others, for reasons best known to himself, and in this consideration all those places of Scripture are to be taken and considered, that he will have mercy on whom he will, and whom he will he hardeneth, and that it is not in him that runneth, but in God that sheweth mercy; so that according to the first consideration we must understand that it is acceptable to God to have men to believe.
- 1Answ.
