Pos. 1. The condition that Arminians fancy to be in the Gospel, can neither consist with the grace of election,1 justification, calling of grace, or crowning of believers with glory; this condition they say we hold, but they err: because it is a condition of hire, that they have borrowed from Lawyers, such as is between man and man, ex causa onerosa, its absolutely in the power of men to do, or not to do, and bows and determineth the Lord and his free will, absolutely to this part of the contradiction, which the creature chooseth, though contrary to the natural inclination, and Antecedent will and decree of God, wishing, desiring, and earnestly inclining to the obedience and salvation of the creature. Now works of grace and infinite grace, flow from the bowels, and in-most desire of God, nothing without laying bonds, chains, or determination ⟨p. 262⟩on the Lords grace, or his holy will. Could our well-doing milk out of the breasts of Christs free grace, or extrinsically determine the will or acts of free-bounty;2 Grace should not be grace. But without money or hire, the Lord giveth his wine and milk, Isai 55.1. Ephes. 2.1, 2. Ezech. 16.5, 6, 7. 2 Tim. 1.9. Tit. 3.3. (2.) Because such a condition is of work, not of grace; and so of no less Law-debt and bargaining, then can be between man and man. And the party that fulfilleth the condition; is 1. most free to forfeit his wages, by working, or not working, as the hireling, or labourer, in a vineyard; yea or any Merchant engaged to another, to perform a condition, of which he is Lord and Master, to do or not do. 2. He is no wise necessitate nor determined any way, but as the hire or wages do determine his will, who so worketh; but the wages being absolutely in his power to gain them, or lose them, determine his will; which cannot fall in the Almighty. 3. Such a condition performed by the creature, putteth the Creature to glory, but not in the Lord, but in himself, Rom. 4.2.3 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory, but not before God. Yea, Adam before the fall, and the elect Angels, hold not life eternal by any such free condition of obedience as is absolutely referred to their free will, to do, or not to do; so our Divines deny against Papists, with good warrant, the free-hold of life eternal, by any title of merit.
Pos. 1. The condition that Arminians fancie to bee in the Gospel, can neither consist with the grace of election,1 justification, calling of grace, or crowning of beleevers with glory; this condition they say we hold, but they erre: because it is a condition of hire, that they have borrowed from Lawyers, such as is betweene man and man, ex causa onerosa, its absolutly in the power of men to doe, or not to doe, and bowes and determineth the Lord and his free will, absolutly to this part of the contradiction, which the creature choseth, though contrary to the naturall inclination, and Antecedent will and decree of God, wishing, desiring, and earnestly inclining to the obedience and salvation of the creature. Now works of grace and infinite grace, flow from the bowels, and in-most desire of God, nothing without laying bonds, chaines, or determination ⟨p. 262⟩on the Lords grace, or his holy will. Could our well-doing milke out of the breasts of Christs free grace, or extrinsecally determine the will or acts of free-bounty;2 Grace should not be grace. But without money or hire, the Lord giveth his wine and milke, Isai 55.1. Ephes. 2.1, 2. Ezech. 16.5, 6, 7. 2 Tim. 1.9. Tit. 3.3. (2.) Because such a condition is of work, not of grace; and so of no lesse Law-debt and bargaining, then can be between man and man. And the party that fulfilleth the condition; is 1. most free to forfeit his wages, by working, or not working, as the hireling, or labourer, in a vineyard; yea or any Merchant ingaged to another, to performe a condition, of which he is Lord and Master, to doe or not doe. 2. He is no wise necessitate nor determined any way, but as the hire or wages doe determine his will, who so worketh; but the wages being absolutely in his power to gaine them, or lose them, determine his will; which cannot fall in the Almightie. 3. Such a condition performed by the creature, putteth the Creature to glory, but not in the Lord, but in himselfe, Rom. 4.2.3 For if Abraham were justified by works, hee hath whereof to glory, but not before God. Yea, Adam before the fall, and the elect Angels, hold not life eternall by any such free condition of obedience as is absolutely referred to their free will, to doe, or not to doe; so our Divines deny against Papists, with good warrant, the free-hold of life eternall, by any title of merit.
- 1Antinomians reject only the Arminians conditions.
- 2The Arminian condition disproved.
- 3Conditions absolutely in our will, which we may perform or not perform as see•eth good to free-will, loosed from all divine predetermination, were •either in Adam before the fall, nor in elect Angels.Conditions absolutly in our will, which we may performe or not perform as see•eth good to free-will, loosed from al divine predetermination, were •either in Adam before the fall, nor in elect Angels.
