The riches of Gods love unto the vessels of mercy, consistent with his absolute…The riches of Gods love unto the vessells of mercy, consistent with his absolute…

Horde indeed is willing to draw the matter unto the consideration of Gods decrees, as if that were the main ¹[Greek or Hebrew] most absurdly, and quite contrary to the doctrine of Augustine, who shapes the decrees of God in conformity to the doctrine of grace; and accordingly to certify the Massilienses in the doctrine of Predestination, he thinks it most fit to begin with proving that Faith is the gift of God, yea the very beginning of it. Now he liked not to follow Austins course, and in the first place to deal upon the point of grace. And herein he savours of M. Masons spirit, for that is his course, as I have seen under his hand; yet suppose that this be the main thing, controverted, namely the quality of Gods decrees, whether they be absolute or conditional only. How doth he satisfy his friend, or perform the promise made in letting election pass untouched, and dealing only upon reprobation? And this I know also to have been M. Masons genuine course, far worse then the Remonstrants in the Synod of Dort, for they made a motion, that they might deal upon reprobation in the first place, and then upon election, wherein notwithstanding they were condemned in the judgement of all foreign Divines, assistant there. But this Author and M. Mason too, on my knowledge, affect to deal upon reprobation only. Yet I have always been, and still am glad to see the utmost of their strength, or any mans strength on any of the five points, and should be very glad to see what they could say upon the point of free will, which is most congruous for them, though they meddle not at all with grace. For even on that point I seem to have profited more, lately by dealing with some English Arminians, then ever before, having always acknowledged, that to be a point very obscure, like as is the nature of original sin which was one of the three points, concerning which I did not look to live so long, as to meet with convenient satisfaction. M. Horde (I heard) conferred with M. Mason, about Election, and told him that the doctrine of our Divines therein seemed very comfortable to the children of God, whereunto M. Mason should answer, by granting that, but then adding, it was very prone to provoke men to looseness of life. This concession was as a shooing horn to draw M.

Horde indeed is willing to drawe the matter unto the consideration of Gods decrees, as if that were the maine ¹〈non-Latin alphabet〉 most absurdly, and quite contrary to the doctrine of Augustine, who shapes the decrees of God in conformitie to the doctrine of grace; and accordingly to certifie the Massilienses in the doctrine of Praedestination, he thinks it most fit to begin with proving that Faith is the gift of God, yea the very beginning of it. Now he liked not to follow Austins course, and in the first place to deale upon the point of grace. And herein hee savours of M. Masons spirit, for that is his course, as I have seen under his hand; yet suppose that this be the maine thing, controverted, namely the qualitie of Gods decrees, whether they be absolute or conditionall only. How doth he satisfie his friend, or performe the promise made in letting election passe untouched, and dealing only upon reprobation? And this I know also to have been M. Masons genuine course, far worse then the Remonstrants in the Synod of Dort, for they made a motion, that they might deal upon reprobation in the first place, and then upon election, wherein notwithstanding they were condemned in the judgement of all forraigne Divines, assistant there. But this Author and M. Mason too, on my knowledge, affect to deale upon reprobation only. Yet I have alwaies been, and still am glad to see the utmost of their strength, or any mans strength on any of the five points, and should be very glad to see what they could say upon the point of free will, which is most congruous for them, though they meddle not at all with grace. For even on that point I seem to have profited more, lately by dealing with some English Arminians, then ever before, having alwaies acknowledged, that to be a point very obscure, like as is the nature of originall sinne which was one of the three points, concerning which I did not look to live so long, as to meet with convenient satisfaction. M. Horde (I heard) conferred with M. Mason, about Election, and told him that the doctrine of our Divines therein seemed very comfortable to the children of God, whereunto M. Mason should answer, by granting that, but then adding, it was very prone to provoke men to loosenesse of life. This concession was as a shooing horne to draw M.