That Proposition of yours, As it is in men renewed after the Image of God, so likewise it is in God himself; had need of much 1limitation and qualification, lest it prove as often false as true, or rather more. That which follows; Such as is his Covenant or Promise, such is his Purpose: is likewise as often false as true. If the Promises of God are absolute, such are his Purposes; but if his Promises be conditional, such are not his Purposes. Both Piscator of late, by evidence of Scripture, and Bradwardine long before, by demonstration of Reason, have proved, that no will in God is conditionate, quoad actum volentis; all the conditions are found, quoad res volitas. And indeed, though the Purposes of God are absolute, yet his Promises are therefore conditionate, because they are conformed to the manner of Gods operation with man: For, as God works in all things agreeable to their natures; so in man he useth to work agreeable to his nature. And therefore, albeit his Purpose be absolute to bring them to grace and glory, to faith, repentance, and salvation; yet he allures them to faith and repentance by promises and threatenings. When you say, that, God doth covenant and promise to give life to the Elect, out of his grace in Christ: You might as well have said, that, God promiseth to give life to them that believe and repent; and more congruously a great deal; seeing the conscience of our faith and repentance brings us to the assurance of our Election; the conscience of our Election, or of the assurance thereof, brings us not unto faith and repentance. But it seems you desire to shape the Promises of God in the Covenant of Grace, and in the Covenant of Works, in so different a manner, that the one may seem to be absolute, the other conditional; whereas they are of the same nature in both: And as God doth withal intend to give the grace of obedience to the Elect; so doth he as absolutely intend to deny it to the other. And I wonder you make ⟨p. 64⟩not mention of the Reprobate in the latter, as of the Elect in the former: Undoubtedly, the Covenant of Works concerns all to whom it is preached; as well the Elect as the Reprobate. And the Covenant of Grace likewise concerns all to whom it is preached; as well the Reprobate as the Elect. To all it is preached, Whosoever believeth shall be saved; as well to the Reprobate as to the Elect:
That Proposition of yours, As it is in men renued after the Image of God, so likewise it is in God himselfe; had need of much 1limitation and qualification, lest it prove as often false as true, or rather more. That which followes; Such as is his Covenant or Promise, such is his Purpose: is likewise as often false as true. If the Promises of God are absolute, such are his Purposes; but if his Promises bee conditionall, such are not his Purposes. Both Piscator of late, by evidence of Scripture, and Bradwardine long before, by demonstration of Reason, have proved, that no will in God is conditionate, quoad actum volentis; all the conditions are found, quoad res volitas. And indeed, though the Purposes of God are absolute, yet his Promises are therefore conditionate, because they are conformed to the manner of Gods operation with man: For, as God workes in all things agreeable to their natures; so in man hee useth to worke agreeable to his nature. And therefore, albeit his Purpose bee absolute to bring them to grace and glory, to faith, repentance, and salvation; yet hee allures them to faith and repentance by promises and threatnings. When you say, that, God doth covenant and promise to give life to the Elect, out of his grace in Christ: You might as well have said, that, God promiseth to give life to them that beleeve and repent; and more congruously a great deale; seeing the conscience of our faith and repentance brings us to the assurance of our Election; the conscience of our Election, or of the assurance thereof, brings us not unto faith and repentance. But it seemes you desire to shape the Promises of God in the Covenant of Grace, and in the Covenant of Workes, in so different a manner, that the one may seeme to bee absolute, the other conditionall; whereas they are of the same nature in both: And as God doth withall intend to give the grace of obedience to the Elect; so doth hee as absolutely intend to deny it to the other. And I wonder you make ⟨p. 64⟩not mention of the Reprobate in the latter, as of the Elect in the former: Undoubtedly, the Covenant of Workes concernes all to whom it is preached; as well the Elect as the Reprobate. And the Covenant of Grace likewise concernes all to whom it is preached; as well the Reprobate as the Elect. To all it is preached, Whosoever beleeveth shall be saved; as well to the Reprobate as to the Elect:
- 1Examine.Examin.
