Fourthly, the very Elect of God, not only rejected Christ for a time, but also crucified him. That which you urge of Gods taking his word and Kingdom (in plain terms the means ⟨p. 244⟩of grace) from such a Nation as contemns them, is nothing to the purpose. For we treat of Gods showing and denying mercy, not in the means, but as touching the grace it self of Repentance. But this benefit you have confounded, by comprehending both under the name of means and helps, for your advantage, to pass from the one to the other, as you see good. Here indeed it is as true, that because men do make precious account of the means of grace, therefore God continueth these means unto them: like as because of mens perseverance in Faith, and Repentance, and good works, God rewards them with everlasting life; like as because men die in their sins, therefore God inflicts on them everlasting death. Only with this difference; Sin on the one side is the meritorious cause both of withdrawing the means of grace, and of damnation: but conscionable walking before God in the use of the means, is only the disposing cause both to the continuance of the means, and to eternal salvation. For God by grace makes us meet partakers of the inheritance of the Saints 1in Light. Forthwith you return to the right state of the question, to wit, in the concession or denegation of regenerating grace, but carry your self in show very prejudicially to the freeness of Gods grace; as when you say, What if no Reprobate made such use of the means and helps offered as to obtain regenerating grace? Dangerously implying that there is a certain use of the means, quo posito, which being put, regenerating grace should be obtained. As if grace regenerating were to be dispensed according to an unregenerate persons works. Of the same leaven savour your words following, when you say, That because they did not make better use of the means, it was just with God to deny them greater means, saving that here you may be relieved by the ambiguity of the word means, by shifting from one sense of it to another. For if means be taken in the same kind, to wit, of outward means, like •• it is just with God to reward the right use of smaller means, with the bestowing of greater, so it is just with God, for the abuse of the smaller, not only to deny greater, but to take away those smaller.
Fourthly, the very Elect of God, not onely rejected Christ for a time, but also crucifyed him. That which you urge of Gods taking his word and Kingdom (in plain terms the means ⟨p. 244⟩of grace) from such a Nation as contemns them, is nothing to the purpose. For wee treat of Gods shewing and denying mercy, not in the means, but as touching the grace it self of Repentance. But this benefit you have confounded, by comprehending both under the name of meanes and helpes, for your advantage, to passe from the one to the other, as you see good. Here indeed it is as true, that because men doe make precious account of the means of grace, therefore God continueth these means unto them: like as because of mens perseverance in Faith, and Repentance, and good works, God rewards them with everlasting life; like as because men die in their sins, therefore God inflicts on them everlasting death. Onely with this difference; Sin on the one side is the meritorious cause both of withdrawing the means of grace, and of damnation: but conscionable walking before God in the use of the means, is only the disposing cause both to the continuance of the means, and to eternall salvation. For God by grace makes us meet partakers of the inheritance of the Saints 1in Light. Forthwith you return to the right state of the question, to wit, in the concession or denegation of regenerating grace, but carry your self in shew very prejudicially to the freenesse of Gods grace; as when you say, What if no Reprobate made such use of the means and helps offered as to obtain regenerating grace? Dangerously implying that there is a certain use of the means, quo posito, which being put, regenerating grace should bee obtained. As if grace regenerating were to bee dispensed according to an unregenerate persons works. Of the same leaven savour your words following, when you say, That because they did not make better use of the means, it was just with God to deny them greater means, saving that here you may bee relieved by the ambiguity of the word means, by shifting from one sense of it to another. For if means bee taken in the same kinde, to wit, of outward means, like •• it is just with God to reward the right use of smaller meanes, with the bestowing of greater, so it is just with God, for the abuse of the smaller, not onely to deny greater, but to take away those smaller.
- 1Col. •.
