Again, how can God be said to entertain an earnest and serious affection concerning their Salvation, being resolved to deprive them of those drawing and effectual means, without which none can come to Repentance, and consequently without which none can be saved? As for the affirmative part, you say the Reprobates are sufficiently enabled by God, to do much more then they do, in seeking after the Lord, and finding mercy from him, and that by certain means and helps. Now in this place I conceive by means and helps you understand only outward things, as either the administration of Gods providence in his Works, or the ministry of his Word, and not ⟨p. 211⟩the effectual operation of Gods Spirit, bestowing any power upon them, which naturally they had not, though this must needs be your meaning in the negative part of the assertion. But as touching the assertion it self, there is no question but every natural man, hath power to do more then he doth, in the way of actions natural, but in the way of doing ought that is good, and pleasing in the sight of God, I know no power incident to a natural man: for as much as the Apostle saith, They that are in the flesh cannot please God. Yet I confess according as the world accounts morality, every natural man hath power to do more good then he doth, and to abstain more from evil then he doth, that is, he may give more Alms then he doth, he may be more temperate then he is: but whether he doth that, which for the substance of the action is accounted good; or abstains from some particular evil actions; yet neither the one nor the other is or can be performed by him in a gracious, but rather in an ungracious manner; and whether this be accounted, a seeking after the Lord, and that to find mercy from him, I dare appeal to your own judgement; yet this is not all you maintain. For whereas the Lord may be sought after, as the God and governor of nature only; you further say in the next page, that there is a sufficiency of power in the means, to lead the men of this world, to come to the knowledge of God, and to grace in Christ.
Again, how can God bee said to entertain an earnest and serious affection concerning their Salvation, being resolved to deprive them of those drawing and effectuall meanes, without which none can come to Repentance, and consequently without which none can bee saved? As for the affirmative part, you say the Reprobates are sufficiently enabled by God, to do much more then they doe, in seeking after the Lord, and finding mercy from him, and that by certain means and helpes. Now in this place I conceive by means and helps you understand only outward things, as either the administration of Gods providence in his Works, or the ministry of his Word, and not ⟨p. 211⟩the effectuall operation of Gods Spirit, bestowing any power upon them, which naturally they had not, though this must needs bee your meaning in the negative part of the assertion. But as touching the assertion it self, there is no question but every naturall man, hath power to doe more then hee doth, in the way of actions naturall, but in the way of doing ought that is good, and pleasing in the sight of God, I know no power incident to a naturall man: for as much as the Apostle saith, They that are in the flesh cannot please God. Yet I confesse according as the world accounts morality, every naturall man hath power to doe more good then hee doth, and to abstain more from evill then hee doth, that is, hee may give more Almes then hee doth, hee may bee more temperate then hee is: but whether hee doth that, which for the substance of the action is accounted good; or abstaines from some particular evill actions; yet neither the one nor the other is or can bee performed by him in a gracious, but rather in an ungracious manner; and whether this bee accounted, a seeking after the Lord, and that to finde mercy from him, I dare appeale to your own judgement; yet this is not all you maintain. For wheras the Lord may bee sought after, as the God and governour of nature onely; you further say in the next page, that there is a sufficiency of power in the means, to lead the men of this world, to come to the knowledge of God, and to grace in Christ.
