diversly abused is too evident 1. By some in a willing withdrawing and turning aside after such knowledge and operations of truth given a fearfull and dangerous evil Hos 11.1 4 7. Ezek. 24.13 Prov. 1.24 2. By others though not prevailed with to receive the love of the truth to save renew and cleanse them yet lifting up themselves to high conceits of themselves as more excellent than others because of such visits shines and motions and even on that ground also boasting of their enjoyments of free grace and peculiar favour a dangerous evil Prov. 30.13 Jude 5.6 2 Thes 2.10 11 12. the Lord give such timely repentance 3. Yet lastly that we may fully and rightly understand this business there is one thing more to be considered namely how long any is to be reckoned in the number of natural men and that according to Scripture account is untill by the grace of God in Christ discovered they be brought in to believe in Jesus Christ and then they are something else and better than meer natural men or till for persisting in resisting this grace they be left and so given up and reprobated of God and then they be something else and worse than meer natural men the first of these have a begun freedom of will not onely to chuse spiritual good things for that they have already but also to pursue abide in and follow after the same which no meer natural man hath and the latter have lost that freedom they have before given them to moral good things and attention to mediums for spiritual good being void of judgement therein and till men become one of these two sorts they even all men besides both rich and poor wise and simple learned and unlearned in offices ecclesiastical or civil and out of office within or without the pale of the profest Church Jews or Gentiles civil or deboyst idolatrous superstitious devout or profane and scoffers meek or furious chaste or unchaste liberal or covetous c. They are all of them natural and but natural men untill as is said 1. That by the love or grace of God in Christ that dyed for sinners discerned and believed they be brought to deny and disown themselves their own sins purposes and ways so as they believe on God in Christ therein accepting this grace to save comfort renew and guide them the bent of their heart being set to depend on God to enjoy honour and please him waiting on him for preservation and eternal life these though men and in a sense natural men still Acts. 14.15 yet also indeed and in truth they are something else more and better than natural men even the Sons of God by faith Gal. 3.26 Born of God John 1.12 13. of water and the spirit John 3.3 5. By the grace and spirit of God in and by Christ Rom. 5.6 8 10. Tit. 3.4 5 6. 1 Pet. 1.21 And so all that by the freeness of Gods love appearing in the death of Christ are brought to believe in Christ and so have him by his Word and Spirit abiding in them and they by faith and love abiding in him these all these whether babes strong men or fathers all are the sons of God members of Christ and in some degree spiritual yea though by reason of some weakness and oppositions of flesh and world some be more carnal than spiritual Rom. 7.14 1 Cor. 1.2 3. So that such believers all and every one of them have not onely such a freedom of will as that they might chuse that is good according to their understanding in things natural and moral and attention to the outward mediums for spiritual good things and so such a light or spirit as God by Christ and for his sake giveth to every one that cometh into the world but they have received an oyntment from the holy One even the word of grace therein the spirit of grace into their spirit and so have a new heart a new spirit and so have not onely that by which attending their will might be made free or an opportunity in which they might have it or such a freedom onely in some spiritual visit that they might chuse life and spiritual good things but much more for by the election grace hath made in their hearts they have chosen life and spiritual good things Isai 56.45.1 Thes 2.13.2 Thes 1.10 And now have in their heart by the operation of God a begun freedom not onely to chuse yea and to will but even also to do spiritual things Phil. 2.12 13. And it is behoofull and gainfull for them to walk out in this grace as they have received Col. 2.6 Phil. 2.12 13. And in this freedom they are differenced from all natural men and much more from them that are worse than natural namely 2. Those who by continual lifting up their own understandings thinking to be wise and preferring their own thoughts purposes and lusts before the receiving and retaining the knowledge and teachings of God by nature or Scripture to turn at his reproof but follow the delusions of Satan till they have closed their eyes and stopped their ears and hardened their hearts in resisting the spirit and blotting out the light which God by Christ had given them and so resisted the truth declared and the holy Ghost in his visits and strifes therein till they be left and given up to Satan and so reprobated and given up of God these and all and every of these though in a sense they be natural men still yet they are also some thing else and more and worse than natural men even the Sons of Belial of the wicked one the seed of the Serpent emphatically the reprobate and wicked indeed that now cannot believe Prov. 1.24 36. Ezek. 24.13 Jer. 6.16 30. Gen. 4.5 13. with 1 John 3.12 Rom. 1.18 28. John 12.38 40. And these having lost that light they had despited the spirit that would have given them more and for that given up of God they are not onely destitute of all freedom of will to spiritual but even to moral good and set with a full resoluteness in their will to do the works of their father the devil being void of all right judgement John 8.41 44. Rom. 1 24 28. And in this they are differenced not onely from believers but from all other men that are reckoned in the number of natural men And now having been so large in opening this business let all this be brought together let the will be considered as one of the faculties of the soul and the freedom for a libertie not from a command or lawfullness but in it self to chuse the one or the other in things proffered let the things be considered as distinct natural and moral and spiritual and of what and to which is spoken in any affirmation let the natural man be considered as he was righteous but is fallen in and through Adam and redemption wrought for him by Christ and some light given him
him and so challenge and hope for heaven thereby agrievous and dangerous deceit and of as wofull an issue Prov. 14.12 and 16.25 and 21.2 and 30.12 And this reproved in Gods people Zach. 7.5 6. 3. Some through folly setting the servant to rule suffering their appetite and sense to command their will do freely chuse those worst things and ways by which they lay Bars and Blocks in the way of their own conversion and so fore-stall themselves from hearkning to better offers when tendered and so provoke God to leave them to such folly as is folly in the eyes of natural men as to hire or buy a farm before they see it Luke 14.18 Yet this freedom of will given by Christ will serve to leave men that so abuse it without excuse seeing they were not necessitated to chuse the worst but did it freely without constraint and such as use it but as they may do avoid many rubs and blocks from being in the way of their conversion and yet in all this is no free will to that which is spiritually good nor any exalting of the nature of man but the grace of God for that freedom that is given 4. But to proceed farther to consider man according to the fourth consideration viz. As by virtue of the death sacrifice and mediation of Jesus Christ there is by him some light understanding and disposition given into the soul the minde will and affections of man yea every man that cometh into the world But because this will not be believed by some but is questioned and denyed it is much to produce some instances of Scripture where the Spirit of truth affirmeth the same that it may appear unquestionably true John 1.4 5 9. Jesus Christ is said to have life in him and that life in him to be the light of men that whence issues that discoverie of the knowledge of the goodness of God and that life mercy c. which men have and might further enjoy and the light shineth note it not onely to but in darkness in the blind understandings and mindes of men and their ways and the darkness comprehendeth it not but then it follows that more means is used and then vers 9. He was the true light namely from the beginning as still he is the light of the world John 8.12 which lighteth every man that cometh into the world and what this light is see Prov. 20.27 The spirit of man is the candle or lamp of the Lord which he hath given him and set up and lighted in his heart searching and so discovering all the inward parts of the belly this also is avouched by good Elihu Job 32.8 there is a spirit in man and the in spiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding and that this spirit or light and inclination though in the soul is neither the soul nor the body of man as from Adam but some infusion by the means of Christ appeareth in that it is said to be given of God that men by it might inquire after and discern the goodness of God their maker Job 35.10 11. and also that it is exprest as a third thing distinct from soul and body Luke 1.46 47. 1 Thes 5.23 And let men call this what they please it is such a light understanding and disposition as in which men are said to have eyes to see and ears to hear so as they might discern between that which is morally good and morally evil and discern many of the attributes of God and much of his minde in his works and word yea and that testimony of his Son being the Saviour of the world when it is brought to them if they close not the eyes eares given them and refuse to use them to the end for which they were given them and that is it they are reproved for as is clear Gal. 3.1 Acts 28 27 Jer. 5.21 Ezek. 22.26 And hereby it is that many natural men have so discerned the being and attributes of God in his works and have been so inclined to many moral good things and disapproved moral evils which though some of good esteem calls the Reliques of Gods Image left in Adam after the fall and therein unwittingly magnifie nature and asscribe some light and freedom of will to it and deny man to be dead in sin by the fall yet the truth is those things are the fruit of that life in Christ for men and by him given in to them John 1.3 4 5 8 9 10. So that as man is thus considered he hath from Christ such light or spirit as if heeded and suffered would make his will free to moral good things Exod. 35.5 21 26. So as in this respect there is given by Christ so much freedom as the will is not constrained but might chuse the best in respect of moral good or evil presented unto it and in respect of attending to or withdrawing from the Gospel which attended to would work a better freedom whence in their not so chusing they are charged not with a necessitous turning aside but to have chosen their own ways and that which God delighted not in and 65.12 and 66.3 4. Prov. 1.29 31. And all this is no affirmation of free will in man by nature to that which is supernaturally and spiritually good for that it yet is not nor of it self can be without some farther grace than here mentioned though in right use of this shewn even that might be met withall Prov. 8.32 36. But this serveth still to abase mans nature as fallen and to magnifie the grace of God in Christ and to aggravate the finfulness of evil chusers of their own ways yet this freedom of will though graciously given by Christ to men for their good is by many divers ways abused to their greater harm for 1. Some even when God appears and the knowledge of God is tendered and they discern the same right and good and might chuse to behold the light and attend the means of knowledge tendered in which they should meet with blessing yet because it reproveth and calleth off from some Idolatry or uncleanness or worldly lusts which they exceedingly love they without constraint do freely refuse to hearken to such instructions and yield to such acts of worship and justice mercy and sobriety as would hinder the satisfying of those lusts and as freely chuse the contrary which they might have refused but would not and in this their evil choise they say to the Almighty Depart from us we will not the knowledge of thy ways whence these are said to be the wicked indeed Phil. 3.18 19. 2 Tim. 3 4. Job 21.14 15. 2. Some when light and truth is extended discovering the vanity of Idols and false worship and mens doctrines and ways and the goodness of truth so as they begin to see what is right and good and like it as good to be followed yet because they love peace to the flesh and the approbation of man in authority and
in fame for learning and devotion they not by any necessity or constraint but willingly stick to their commands and doctrines and refuse to embrace the truth that would endanger to their displeasure and reproach Hos 5.3 4 9 11. John 5.44 and 12.42 43. whence that Isa 51.12 13. Neither will this Plea help them or be found true their wills were so chained they could not chuse to accept the better part in this they were for want of liberty and freedom of will necessitated to chuse the worse part herein and whoever help them with this Plea God will reprove it Isai 5.1 4. Mic. 2.7 3. Some there are that for want of the right knowledge of Christ having dyed for all and the ends and virtues of his death stoop not to come in at that door wherein they will be found no better than others and chuse not that efficacie of the death of Christ that they might be quickned by him yet make some use though a wrong one of this liberty and freedom of will given them by Christ and that is this that being convinced of sin and their guiltiness of it by the Law and the wages to be death and so terrified by the Law with the apprehensions of Gods anger and judgement and so of hell and believing the Law to be holy just and good as indeed it is they set themselves to the Law and chuse to work sorrow on their hearts for their sins and so to leave them and to learn the knowledge of those righteous affections and services commanded by the Law hereby to get the righteousness of God and as by use and custom they attain to some inward frames and promptness in duties they would from thence conclude themselves alive to God but finding wants they will look to Christ as one that dyed for such that so what is wanting in them may be made up by him and being come to this they trust there are Christs they have faith they are righteous and have some free-will to that which is supernatural and spiritual good but in this they are not wise but farther off unjustified still 2 Cor. 10.7 11 12 13. Luke 18.11 Rom. 7.9 and 9.33 and 10.1 2 3 4. Job 9.30 33. And yet in this is something that is worse for they yet not knowing that which is indeed supernatural and spiritual good and so having as yet no freedom of will to chuse that But onely this freedom forementioned to that is morally good and all the zeal and exercise being an act of their will though helped by that freedom in it given by Christ to men yet this now they call an act of supernatural grace and say it is a begun freedom of will to that which is spiritually good and that it was wrought in them by the free grace and the almighty and unresistable power of God without which they say they could not have had it And they acknowledge it the work of his grace as did the Pharisee Luke 18.11 And of this act and fruit of their will they make a great Idol and mysteriously worship it for from hence they fetch their knowledge and on this they build their faith and hope that they are elect that Christ dyed for them that Christ is theirs and they his that the promises belong to them and that they shall have eternal life and can never fall away though they think and to others say Christ is their foundation yet the truth is the first and bottom matter is the foundation and that to them is this act produced by their will without which they know not whether Christ dyed for them or no so that they build that perswasion hereon also and hence is their assurance c. raised though every whit as much deceived as they Prov. 30.12 Luke 18.11 Rev. 3.17 18. 2 Cor. 10.12 And as high-thoughted of themselves as they Prov. 30.13 Isai 65.5 Yet do they blinde themseves and others from discerning this by earnest and zealous crying down all free-will in man to any such good as they have as if there be any it must needs be by nature and so as persuing others as magnifiers of nature and holding man hath free-will to that is spiritually good therefore you may be sure they are far from any such thing and yet all this while they have no more but that freedom of will that is by Christ given to all men though not so to work with and build on the Lord help such as are snared with it out of this mysterious Deceit that they may not be as those Prov. 30.12 13. or he Luke 18.11 Lamentable it is that so good and gracious a gift given to man should be so abused but it will leave at last the abusers excuseless 5. But I will now add the last consideration of the natural man and that is as Jesus Christ by the virtue of his death sacrifice and mediation doth by his spirit in and according to the Gospel visit and move the heart with some supernatural light and motion at some seasons striving with him that there are such seasons of gracious visitations and especially where the Gospel is plainly preached I need not in our Nation stretch my Assertion any farther is evident for the plain preaching of the Gospel is it self a gracious visitation to a people and the mean yea the choise if not the onely outward mean to enlighten mens mindes in make their wills free to chuse spiritual good things Luke 68 78 79. and 19.42 44. And Christ by his spirit is graciously present in such ministration of the Gospel Prov. 9.1 6. Matth. 28.20 whence it is called a ministration of life spirit and righteousness 2 Cor. 3.7 8 9. And yet moreover at some seasons more than others and sometime to one and sometime to another he doth more clearly and forcibly visit with some supernatural light and motion discovering his goodness to the heart and moving it with convincement and alurement so striving with them by his spirit as appears Rev. 3.20 1 Pet. 2.12 John 16.8 13. And in such seasons he is making the will free laying grace and life before it moving with loving alurements so as they might be free to chuse and have then an opportunitie to receive that freedom yea in one season or other before he leave striving with them he takes off the yoke of thraldom that there is so much freedom given to the will I say not that they shall necessarily by constraint but that they might in that season while his presence is so with them even chuse life yea spiritual good things though many undervaluing it do not as is evident Hos 11 4. Ezek. 24.13 Isa 5.1 4. I say not this freedom wrought in the will of the natural man is abiding or dwelling in him but onely that it is given into his will at and in such a season of visitation and yet that this mercy of God given in such seasons is by many
I have all the way affirmed peculiar to believers a heart to perceive and eyes to see and ears to hear the mysteries of God that in spirituals they might follow him and that Moses that affirms the former given them and from thence exhorts them Deut. 4. and 6. and 7. and 10. Doth yet affirm this not given them of God as yet Deut. 29.4 and that sure not to excuse their sin and lay the blame on God but to aggravate their sin and rebellion to be very great in not seeing and heeding what they saw c. Else sure the mercifull God that had done so much for them and promised so much to them freely would have given them such an heart before now so that it was sin they had not that gift even as it was the sin of those John 16.8 9. they had not believed though faith be the gift of God Ephes 2.8 And thus those that had received much mercy did so provoke God that he might justly forbear to shew them any farther mercy but have consumed them all but yet he would not but to whom he pleased of them to shew mercy and be gracious to them he would and who they were and are he hath shewn even them that are humbled by this his reproof and so forsake their own thoughts or purposes and ways and by the discoveries of his goodness turn to him Jer. 18.1 7 8. Psal 55.7 And this to be the meaning of God and Moses is evident by the whole scope of Deuteronomy and this 29. the 30. chapter which else had been in vain and to no purpose to such a people Again note the things of which the Apostle speaks in making use of that saying of the Lord in Moses writings and they appear to be supernatural and spiritual things as the new birth the birth effected by the promise and so the appearance efficacy and election of grace therein and so of the communication of remission of sins justification righteousness peace c. vers 8. Such as the discerning of and freedom of will in chusing is not affirmed to be in the natural man much less that these things should be in him or of him by any natural power or by his willing or running to work out or reach to himself they being things to be received upon the free gift and tender in believing Yet again note that he saith these things are of God it is in his power love mercy and faithfulness still to give and work in us to receive he hath not limited himself nor set bounds to his will to hinder him from being gracious when he will and to whom he will that from him it may be looked for and yet farther note that he saith that God of whom it is sheweth mercy so that he hath not yet excluded such persons as will and run but still sheweth mercy gives them who of themselves are blinde and deaf some sight and hearing that they might see and hear and so in seeing and hearing be convinced of the vileness of their sins against so good a God and the vanity of their own ways and strifes in willing and running and so fall down before him accepting the freeness of his grace receiving it to be saved by it see an example of a receiver Phil. 3.3 7 8 9. and of refusers 2 Thes 2.10 So that this place agreeth with and directeth to the right use of that I have affirmed to be given by Christ to natural men and is a like pressing caveat instruction and exhortation to that mentioned John 15.4 5. John 6.44 65. No man can come to me except the father which hath sent me draw him except it were given unto him of my father Ans Surely this is altogether true and a sweet instruction motive and reproof but here is nothing in it denying or crossing any thing I have affirmed for 1. That I have affirmed that it is of Gods working to draw to Christ as is seen in all said 2. God draweth many with the cords of a man and bands of love that yet do not come in to him but draw back Hos 11.3 4 7. and our Saviour said not that all that the father draweth do come to me but every one that hath heard in which hearing the bands of love do fasten and learned that is received his instructions and so renounced himself and accepted of Christ and therein chosen life cometh to me 3. This saying of our Saviour is used as an admonition to them because of their own imbecility that cannot of themselves come to receive his instruction and lay hold on the opportunity afforded receiving the love of the truth appearing and the heavenly bread now given them by the Father that sent the Son that is now calling on them that by his grace they may believe on him and so come to him who will give them life John 6.27 29 32 33. for if he withdraw give them up for contempt then they cannot believe or come as John 12.35 40. with Mat. 13.14 15. Suffer not the day of visitation to pass by unminded take heed of being found the murmurers against him as John 6.43 least that be verified Matth. 23.37 38. Luke 19.42 4. Lastly this saying of our Saviour is not used to lay the blame of their not coming upon God but on themselves whose fault it was John 5.34 40. as Moses did the like Deut. 29.4 30.15 16. And so to reprove them for not accepting his words and coming while his Father was drawing and to shew the faithfulness of his ministration to them who had forewarned them of this and their departure to be of themselves because they refused to come in the Fathers drawing without which he had taught them they could not come he mindes them that therefore he had said this unto them vers 65. So that this saying agreeth well with and leads to the right understanding and use of that I have affirmed like that John 15.4 5. Phil. 2.13 It is God that worketh in you both the will and the deed c. Ans This is nothing against any thing I have affirmed because in that affirmed all that is good is shewn to be the free gift and work of God by Christ But the text is not as it is here aledged nor so as will bear such a sense but thus For it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of good pleasure or as some both to will and to accomplish according to his good pleasure or as others both to will and to do of good will all these having one and the same sense the will being theirs though given them of God and the doing appertaining to them though by that strength given them of God and that grace discovered and given which moveth the will to that is good being another gift of God and his work and that strength enabling them to do being a fruit of the same grace and Spirit and so of God inabling them for to do that is spiritually good so as if they yield up to it they have the favour and strength of God going along with them to assist bless and safeguard them but if they neglect and smother the light and motion turning aside and rebell against him then can they without him do nothing that is good but resisting against God they may fear decays and chastisements whence those admonitions Eph. 4.30 1 Thes 5.19 1 John 3.17 And upon this ground the Apostle exhorteth them to work out their own Salvation that which wrought within them and this with fear and trembling and to do all things this grace requireth without murmurings or disputings that they might be blameless c. So that this all the way opens confirms aâ—â— leads to the right use of what I have affirmed like that in John 15.4 5. though in this place also believers and men spirituâ—… are spoken to who have some portion of the Spirit of grace and so some discerning of and begun freedom in their will for and to that which is spiritually good and supernatural yea and working in them and are directed about and exhorted to the right use of that as Col. 2.6 which because natural men want therefore it is requisit that the Gospel which discovers that which will work it if attended to be discovered to them and they exhorted according to that light and freedom God giveth them to believe and receive the love of the truth to save them that so they may receive that which yet they have not And thus have I faithfully and plainly in homely phrases declared our perswasion in this business and if in this any that love Jesus Christ and seek the glory of God in Christ and the good of men be otherwise minded I hope wherein soever either of us come short of the fulness of truth our gracious God will reveal the same to us onely whereto we have already attained let us walk by the same rule let us minde the same thing and not judge or dispise defame and slander one another But with all humbleness of minde endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace and joyntly seek the glory of our Master Christ Jesus and the good of those he hath dyed for and the prosperity of those whom by virtue of his death he hath brought in to believe in him which is the desire and shall be the prayer of the meanest and unworthiest of that number Thomas Moore Whittlesee Decemb. 12. Ann. 1651. FINIS