If it be spoken in reference to the Covenant of Grace, I dispute against it, first in the same manner. The conditions of the Covenant of Grace on mans part being Faith and Repentance, if God will not save them, but upon condition of faith and repentance, and will damn them in case of infidelity and impenitency; then surely if it shall be found, that the men of this world are far more prone to infidelity and impenitency then unto faith and repentance, it followeth that God purposeth rather to damn them then to save them; But in case they are naturally carried to infidelity and impenitency, and have no power to believe in Christ, and to break off their sins by true repentance; then it followeth as well in respect of this Covenant of grace (according whereunto God will deal with them) as in respect of the former Covenant of the Law, that ⟨p. 181⟩God hath no purpose to save them, but hath a purpose to damn them unto everlasting fire. But so it is of all those whom you call the world of mankind, namely, that they have no power to believe in Christ, or to break off their sins by repentance, but are naturally carried on unto infidelity and impenitency, as I prove thus. They that cannot discern the things of God, but account them foolishness, they cannot believe in Christ: But such are all they whom you call the world of mankind, for 1they are not regenerate, and consequently they are mere naturals. Now the natural man, as the Apostle speaks, perceives 2not the things of God, for they are foolishness unto him. Again, all such persons are still in the flesh. Now the affection of the flesh is enmity against God, is not subject to the Law of God, neither indeed can be. Secondly, I prove that God cannot deal with them whom you call the world of mankind, according to the Covenant of Grace: For if he should, he should save them all; as I prove thus. If whatsoever God requires by this covenant on mans part, God undertakes to perform on his part, then it is impossible but that all must be saved with whom he means to deal according to this covenant. But whatsoever by this covenant God requires on mans part, God himself undertakes to perform on his part, as I prove thus. First, in general, God undertakes in this covenant, to be our Lord and our God, to sanctify us. Therefore, he undertakes to give us faith and repentance.
If it bee spoken in reference to the Covenant of Grace, I dispute against it, first in the same manner. The conditions of the Covenant of Grace on mans part being Faith and Repentance, if God will not save them, but upon condition of faith and repentance, and will damne them in case of infidelity and impenitency; then surely if it shall bee found, that the men of this world are far more prone to infidelity and impenitency then unto faith and repentance, it followeth that God purposeth rather to damne them then to save them; But in case they are naturally carryed to infidelity and impenitency, and have no power to beleeve in Christ, and to break off their sinnes by true repentance; then it followeth as well in respect of this Covenant of grace (according whereunto God will deale with them) as in respect of the former Covenant of the Law, that ⟨p. 181⟩God hath no purpose to save them, but hath a purpose to damne them unto everlasting fire. But so it is of all those whom you call the world of mankind, namely, that they have no power to believe in Christ, or to break off their sinnes by repentance, but are naturally carryed on unto infidelity and impenitency, as I prove thus. They that cannot discern the things of God, but account them foolishnesse, they cannot beleeve in Christ: But such are all they whom you call the world of mankind, for 1they are not regenerate, and consequently they are meere naturals. Now the naturall man, as the Apostle speakes, perceives 2not the things of God, for they are foolishnesse unto him. Again, all such persons are still in the flesh. Now the affection of the flesh is enmity against God, is not subject to the Law of God, neither indeed can bee. Secondly, I prove that God cannot deale with them whom you call the world of mankinde, according to the Covenant of Grace: For if hee should, hee should save them all; as I prove thus. If whatsoever God requires by this covenant on mans part, God undertakes to perform on his part, then it is impossible but that all must bee saved with whom hee meanes to deale according to this covenant. But whatsoever by this covenant God requires on mans part, God himself undertakes to perform on his part, as I prove thus. First, in generall, God undertakes in this covenant, to bee our Lord and our God, to sanctifie us. Therefore, hee undertakes to give us faith and repentance.
- 11 Cor. 2. 14.
- 2Rom. 8.
