"very properly be ask'd here, Who then can be faved? For, if the fcripture has "rightly reprefented men as by nature in "a ftate of death, to every good work repro"bate; not fufficient as of themselves to speak

a good word, or think a good tho't; how "is it poffible they fhou'd by their own "innate power ever perform these great and weighty conditions?

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Thus our doctrine appears to be not only confiftent with the mercy of God, but to give it a brighter difplay. And I would only add upon this; It is the grace and mercy which I fee fhining forth in this doctrine, that makes me embrace it, and prize it, and contend for it. And however others may judge, I declare with all ferioufnefs, I wou'd not for ten thousand worlds but my own falvation fhou'd ftand more fecure, than any will or power of my own is able to make it.

To go on.

3. It is objected against the truth we are maintaining, that it is inconfiftent with human liberty, and tends to establish a fatal neceffey of things. Some will fay, if men are predeftinated to faith and holiness, a force is then put upon their inclinations, and a free choice taken away: As on the other hand they fay, this brings men under N 2.

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a neceffity of finning; and why are they to be blam'd or punifh'd for what they cannot help? Nay, fome will venture fo far as to fay, that upon this principle God. himself must be the author of fin, or the blameable caufe of evil.

I answer, To reconcile the divine foreordination with human liberty, is a thing too hard for us ; nor may any one pretend to do it. Yet the matter of fact is certain, that men do act with liberty and freedom in things that are fore-ordained. And tho' we can't reconcile them, there is certainly an agreement between these two. Nor is it more difficult to reconcile this, than fome other things which yet are generally own'd. As for inftance, the duty and fuccefs of prayer with the doctrine of God's unchangeableness. Such is the perfection of God's nature that he is unchangeable in his mind and purposes. When he is faid in fcripture to repent or change his mind, 'tis only spoken after the manner of men; and can by no means be understood as if he had alter'd his purpofe upon any new prospect, or was bro't to do otherwife than he before defign'd; for this wou'd plainly be to derogate from the perfection of his nature. Yet prayer is the appointed means of receiving mercy and bleffings

from

from God, and he does many things for his people in answer to their prayers, and has never faid to the feed of Jacob, feck ye me in vain. Now I fay, 'tis no more difficult to reconcile the divine fore ordination with human liberty, than it is the doctrine of the divine unchangeablenefs with the efficacy of prayer. And fo there is no more reafon to reject the doctrine of the divine decree, than there is the doctrine of the divine unchangablenefs, which even reafon teaches.

Tho' the elect of God are predeftinated to faith and holiness, no violence is offer'd to their wills when they come to believe in Chrift, and chufe the way of holiness. Tho' all that the father hath given him, hall come to Chrift, yet they come freely, not by a force upon their wills, but a change in them Surely God may incline the wills of men, without destroying the nature and freedom of them. So we read, Thy people shall be willing is the day of thy power, Pfal. 110. 3. And God tells his people, I bave loved thee with an everlasting love; therefore with loving kindness bave I drawn thee. And the church prays, Draw me, we will run after thee, Cant. 1 4. On the other hand, Tho' the decree ofGod leaves fome unto the finfulness of their own hearts and lives, out of which he is under

under no obligation to recover them, yet this enforces no man to fin; but men's fin is always voluntary and chofen. So'tis faid of God's finful people of old, Isai. 66.3. They bave chofen their own ways, and their foul delighteth in their abominations.

To illuftrate and confirm this, let me refer you to the ftory of Jofeph, which prefents us with a notable draught & fcheme of providence. God had a purpose to advance Jofeph in Egypt, and alfo a defign to fave his fathers houfe alive in a time of famine, by fending him there before them to make provifion for them; and as a means to this Jofeph was fold to the Ifhmalites, and by them to an officer in Pharaohs court. But will any one fay that his brethren did not act freely in their felling of him, and gratifie their own envy and malice by that wicked deed?

So our Lord Jefus Chrift was the lamb flain from the foundation of the world, in the divine counsel and purpofes; yet 'tis faid of the Jews that for envy they delivered him to Pilate, Mat. 7. 18. And the apoftle Peter thus charges them, Acts 2. 23. Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and fore-knowledge of God, ye have takën, and by wicked bands have crucified and flain. The crime is exprefly faid to be their own, tho' done in pursuance of the divine determi nation.

Nor can the holy God be made the author of fin when he leaves the finner to his finfulness: For tho' he permits the fin, he infufes no finfulness into the finner.

"Will any fay, God's denying the revengful perfon, or the murderer, that grace which would prevent his executing his bloody defigns, makes him the author of the murder? Or is his denying to others the neceflary fupply of their prefent_exigencies, the caufe of their making use of unlawful means, by plundering and ftealing, to fubfift themselves? No, this is only to be affign'd to that wicked propensity of nature, which enclines to fin when occafion is offer'd, & not to the divine efficiency.”

4. It is objected that this doctrine of particular election is inconfiftent with fuch declarations in fcripture as those that tell us, God is not willing any fhou'd perifh, but wou'd have all men to be faved; and with fuch expoftulations as God ufes with finners, and lamentations over them, when he fays, Turn ye, turn ye, why will ye die? And, O that thou hadst known in this thy day, the things of thy peace! And alfo with fuch general offers of grace as that, Whofcever will let bim take of the water of life freely.

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