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…

to say it is not, is to acknowledge some things to exist in the world, in the producing whereof, God hath no hand, which is generally disclaimed; And Durand, who affirms some such thing, is opposed generally, and indeed his arguments are very sleight. But if God doth will that condition; then either he wills it absolutely or conditionally; If absolutely, then the cause is gained. For then that which was first willed, was willed also absolutely not conditionally. As for example, if God wills a man's salvation upon condition of faith, if withal God's will be, and that absolutely to give him faith, it followeth that God wills that man's salvation, and that absolutely. If it be answered that the condition is willed not absolutely, but upon another condition; of that other condition I enquire whether God willed it or no. If no, then something is produced in the world, in the production whereof God, hath no hand, which is very inconvenient; If you grant that he willed that also, I farther demand whether he willed it absolutely or conditionally? If absolutely then all that depended thereupon were absolutely willed, and so the cause is obtained. If you say this condition was willed also conditionally, so a way is made to a progression in infinitum, which is a thing unsufferable by the consent of all. And as many as are put to give instance will forthwith manifest the nakedness of their cause. This demonstration of Bradwardine I sometimes represented to this very Author in our private walking and communication, and he professed it was a very ingenious argument. As for the other term Irresistible this manifests this Author's meaning, that some will of God, speaking of his decree, is of a resistable nature. Whereas St. Paul to the contrary plainly gives us to understand that God's will is irresistible; & the Psalmist saith, that the counsel of the Lord shall stand. And my counsel shall stand, and I will do whatsoever I will. And therefore his decrees are resembled to mountains of brass. As for the lost term necessitating. For the Gentleman pays us in words, for want of better coin, not considering that words are ¹but wind, he would cheat his Reader by this, presuming he would be so simple, as to believe that God by this decree of his takes away the liberty of the creature, but it doth not;

to say it is not, is to acknowledge some things to exist in the world, in the producing whereof, God hath noe hand, which is generally disclaimed; And Durand, who affirmes some such thing, is opposed generally, and indeed his arguments are very sleight. But if God doth will that condition; then either he wills it absolutely or conditionally; If absolutely, then the cause is gained. For then that which was first willed, was willed also absolutely not conditionally. As for example, if God wills a man's salvation upon condition of faith, if withall God's will be, and that absolutely to give him faith, it followeth that God wills that man's salvation, and that absolutely. If it be answered that the condition is willed not absolutely, but upon another condition; of that other condition I enquire whether God willed it or noe. If noe, then something is produced in the world, in the production whereof God, hath no hand, which is very inconvenient; If you grant that he willed that also, I farther demand whether he willed it absolutely or conditionally? If absolutely then all that depended thereupon were absolutely willed, and so the cause is obtained. If you say this condition was willed also conditionally, so a way is made to a progression in infinitum, which is a thing unsufferable by the consent of all. And as many as are put to give instance will forthwith manifest the nakednes of their cause. This demonstration of Bradwardine I sometimes represented to this very Authour in our private walking and communication, and he professed it was a very ingenious argument. As for the other terme Irresistable this manifests this Authour's meaning, that some will of God, speaking of his decree, is of a resistable nature. Whereas St. Paul to the contrary plainly gives us to understand that God's will is irresistable; & the Psalmist saith, that the counsell of the Lord shall stand. And my counsell shall stand, and I will doe whatsoever I will. And therefore his decrees are resembled to mountaines of brasse. As for the lost terme necessitating. For the Gentleman paies us in words, for want of better coine, not considering that words are