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…

Pag. 87. Of the fifth Section next following; The passages out of the suffrages of our Britain Divines in the Synod of Dort quoted by M. Hoard, here they are expressed, namely that there are certain internal works preparing a man to justification, which by the power of the word and Spirit are wrought in the hearts of men not yet justified, such as are the knowledge of God's will, and sense of sin, fear of punishment. Now I have showed that these our British Divines go much farther; and yet in their fifth Article and fourth position, they profess of all such as are none of Gods Elect, that it is manifest they never really and truly attain that change and renovation of the mind and affections, which accompanieth justification; nay nor that which doth immediately prepare, and dispose unto justification. And therefore the preparation that this Author speaks of as out of them, must needs be a remote preparation. And withal they add, that They never seriously repent, they are never affected with hearty sorrow for offending God, for sinning, neither do they come to any humble contrition of heart, nor conceive a firm resolution not to offend any more. Now let every sober person judge, whether God proceeding no farther with them then this, can be said to intend their conversion and salvation. The other position of theirs is this, Those whom God by his word and Spirit affecteth after this manner, those he truly and seriously calleth and inviteth unto conversion. I make no question, but whom God calleth, he calleth seriously, and whom he inviteth unto conversion, that is as I take it, unto repentance, he inviteth truly & seriously thereunto. But that God intendeth either their conversion or salvation, I utterly deny. For did he intend it, undoubtedly he would work it; For certainly this is in his power. Faith is his gift, and repentance is his gift, and perseverance in both is his gift. And unless he gives faith and repentance we hold it impossible that any man should believe or repent. And what a monster is it in Divinity to maintain, that God's intentions are frustrated, which cannot be maintained without denying God's omnipotency? For no man's intentions are frustrated, but because it lieth not in his power to bring to pass the things intended by him.

Pag. 87. Of the fift Section next following; The passages out of the suffrages of our Brittain Divines in the Synod of Dort quoted by M. Hord, here they are expressed, namely that there are certaine internall workes preparing a man to justification, which by the power of the word and Spirit are wrought in the hearts of men not yet justified, such as are the knowledge of God's will, and sense of sinne, feare of punishment. Now I have shewed that these our Brittish Divines goe much farther; and yet in their fift Article and fourth position, they professe of all such as are none of Gods Elect, that it is manifest they never really and truly attaine that change and renovation of the mind and affections, which accompanieth justification; nay nor that which doth immediately prepare, and dispose unto justification. And therefore the preparation that this Authour speaks of as out of them, must needs be a remote preparation. And withall they adde, that They never seriously repent, they are never affected with hearty sorrow for offending God, for sinning, neither doe they come to any humble contrition of heart, nor conceive a firme resolution not to offend any more. Now let every sober person judge, whether God proceeding no farther with them then this, can be said to intend their conversion and salvation. The other position of theirs is this, Those whom God by his word and Spirit affecteth after this manner, those he truly and seriously calleth and inviteth unto conversion. I make no question, but whom God calleth, he calleth seriously, and whom he inviteth unto conversion, that is as I take it, unto repentance, he inviteth truly & seriously thereunto. But that God intendeth either their conversion or salvation, I utterly deny. For did he intend it, undoubtedly he would worke it; For certainly this is in his power. Faith is his gift, and repentance is his gift, and perseverance in both is his gift. And unlesse he gives faith and repentance we hold it impossible that any man should believe or repent. And what a monster is it in Divinity to maintaine, that God's intentions are frustrated, which cannot be maintained without denying God's omnipotency? For no man's intentions are frustrated, but because it lyeth not in his power to bring to passe the things intended by him.