Selected quad for the lemma: work_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A55751
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The position of John Preston, Doctor in Divinity ... concerning the irresistiblenesse of converting grace; De gratia convertentis irresistibilitate. English
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Preston, John, 1587-1628.
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1654
(1654)
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Wing P3305; ESTC R13567
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15,446
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23
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although_o the_o grace_n of_o god_n be_v the_o principle_n by_o which_o yet_o the_o will_n of_o man_n be_v the_o principle_n which_o work_v all_o in_o like_a manner_n although_o god_n be_v the_o first_o and_o total_a efficient_a cause_n of_o conversion_n yet_o the_o will_n be_v the_o next_o efficient_a cause_n and_o total_a also_o in_o the_o kind_n of_o second_o cause_n therefore_o as_o the_o effect_n be_v wont_a to_o be_v attribute_v unto_o second_o and_o create_a cause_n although_o they_o act_n by_o virtue_n of_o the_o first_o cause_n so_o conversion_n be_v most_o proper_o to_o be_v attribute_v unto_o the_o will_n although_o it_o act_n whole_o in_o the_o strength_n of_o god_n and_o convert_v grace_n 8._o last_o they_o deny_v that_o the_o unresistibleness_n of_o divine_a grace_n and_o the_o liberty_n of_o man_n will_n can_v stand_v together_o but_o we_o say_v that_o conversion_n be_v irresistible_a and_o yet_o free_a but_o we_o distinguish_v concerning_o the_o irresistibleness_n of_o grace_n 1._o there_o be_v one_o kind_a of_o irresistibleness_n whereby_o regenerate_a grace_n infuse_v from_o god_n be_v receive_v by_o the_o will_n and_o this_o irresistibleness_n of_o reception_n we_o confess_v can_v stand_v with_o liberty_n 2._o there_o be_v another_o kind_n whereby_o the_o inclination_n put_v on_o to_o spiritual_a good_a do_v flow_v from_o after_o a_o physical_a or_o real_a manner_n from_o the_o will_n fashion_v by_o grace_n and_o this_o motion_n we_o say_v come_v from_o the_o will_v irresistible_o and_o voluntary_o but_o not_o free_o 3._o there_o be_v a_o irresistibleness_n whereby_o the_o will_n assent_v unto_o this_o physical_a motion_n proceed_v from_o grace_n as_o also_o to_o the_o persuasion_n of_o the_o understanding_n approve_v of_o it_o and_o that_o necessary_o or_o certain_o and_o this_o kind_n of_o irresistibleness_n we_o say_v may_v very_o well_o stand_v with_o liberty_n because_o it_o comprehend_v in_o itself_o those_o two_o thing_n in_o which_o liberty_n stand_v 1._o that_o the_o will_n in_o put_v forth_o this_o last_o act_n of_o willing_a be_v active_a and_o not_o passive_a 2._o because_o the_o moral_a persuasion_n or_o judgement_n of_o the_o understanding_n think_v that_o the_o conversion_n propound_v that_o be_v either_o the_o take_v or_o refuse_v the_o object_n offer_v be_v in_o the_o power_n of_o man_n have_v go_v before_o for_o we_o hold_v that_o whatsoever_o be_v do_v in_o the_o act_n of_o conversion_n either_o by_o a_o mere_a reception_n or_o by_o a_o physical_a or_o powerful_a determination_n be_v not_o free_a but_o that_o every_o willing_a be_v only_o so_o far_o free_a as_o it_o be_v produce_v in_o a_o active_a way_n and_o flow_v from_o a_o reasonable_a persuasion_n and_o that_o upon_o this_o ground_n that_o reason_n lie_v indifferent_a to_o thing_n opposite_a that_o be_v reason_n only_o be_v the_o root_n and_o foundation_n of_o all_o liberty_n from_o whence_o it_o follow_v that_o every_o act_n of_o the_o will_n into_o which_o reason_n have_v its_o influence_n be_v most_o free_a you_o see_v now_o what_o our_o opinion_n be_v which_o we_o have_v be_v the_o long_o in_o open_v because_o the_o explication_n of_o it_o be_v its_o chief_a confirmation_n and_o the_o confutation_n of_o the_o contrary_a beside_o it_o be_v a_o very_a difficult_a thing_n to_o express_v what_o the_o arminian_n hold_v in_o this_o dispute_n because_o they_o cover_v and_o wrap_v up_o their_o opinion_n in_o so_o doubtful_a and_o specious_a word_n there_o yet_o remain_v the_o argument_n by_o which_o our_o opinion_n be_v so_o to_o be_v confirm_v which_o i_o shall_v be_v brief_a in_o two_o thing_n be_v to_o be_v prove_v 1._o that_o quality_n or_o habit_n may_v be_v infuse_v into_o the_o will_n which_o they_o deny_v because_o they_o suppose_v that_o such_o a_o infusion_n do_v utter_o destroy_v and_o take_v away_o the_o nature_n and_o liberty_n of_o the_o will_n 2._o that_o this_o habitual_a and_o quicken_a grace_n be_v thus_o infuse_v we_o be_v convert_v by_o god_n in_o a_o certain_a way_n and_o by_o we_o irresistible_a arg._n i_o that_o there_o be_v such_o a_o infusion_n of_o grace_n renew_v and_o heal_v the_o will_n incline_v and_o determine_v it_o to_o one_o of_o the_o two_o opposite_n in_o the_o act_n of_o conversion_n appear_v by_o this_o that_o all_o divine_n hold_v that_o there_o be_v in_o the_o will_n a_o habitual_a aversion_n from_o god_n and_o a_o habitual_a turn_n to_o sensible_a and_o carnal_a thing_n but_o this_o habitual_a corruption_n of_o nature_n can_v be_v heal_v by_o the_o sole_a help_n of_o grace_n mere_o excite_v for_o as_o corporal_a so_o spiritual_a disease_n be_v not_o cure_v but_o by_o contrary_n and_o therefore_o habitual_a corruption_n can_v be_v change_v but_o by_o a_o habitual_a quality_n imprint_v on_o the_o will_n prosp._n therefore_o say_v right_a the_o inward_a sense_n be_v not_o open_v to_o do_v spiritual_a thing_n until_o the_o foundation_n of_o faith_n and_o fervour_n of_o love_n be_v plant_v in_o the_o heart_n 2._o unless_o it_o be_v grant_v that_o such_o a_o habitual_a grace_n be_v infuse_v into_o the_o will_n by_o which_o it_o be_v incline_v to_o good_a after_o a_o physical_a manner_n there_o will_v be_v find_v no_o formal_a principle_n in_o man_n from_o whence_o good_a act_n may_v be_v produce_v for_o as_o in_o corporal_a thing_n no_o man_n fee_n unless_o he_o first_o have_v eye_n nor_o hear_v unless_o he_o have_v ear_n so_o in_o spiritual_a thing_n no_o man_n see_v unless_o god_n have_v first_o give_v he_o eye_n to_o see_v nor_o hear_v unless_o he_o have_v give_v he_o ear_n to_o hear_v by_o the_o same_o reason_n no_o man_n can_v turn_v himself_o to_o god_n unless_o he_o have_v a_o new_a heart_n that_o be_v a_o new_a will_n to_o turn_v and_o love_n god_n for_o what_o mean_v that_o scripture_n a_o evil_a tree_n bring_v forth_o evil_a fruit_n a_o good_a tree_n bring_v forth_o good_a fruit_n but_o that_o we_o shall_v thereby_o understand_v that_o the_o will_n must_v first_o be_v make_v good_a before_o it_o can_v perform_v any_o spiritual_a work_n which_o must_v necessary_o be_v do_v not_o by_o excite_v or_o persuade_a grace_n but_o by_o grace_n heal_v and_o regenerate_v 3._o let_v it_o be_v suppose_v that_o the_o will_n deform_v by_o habitual_a corruption_n can_v by_o the_o mere_a help_n of_o excite_a grace_n be_v raise_v to_o the_o put_v forth_o of_o spiritual_a act_n yet_o will_v this_o be_v contrary_a to_o that_o sweetness_n of_o divine_a providence_n which_o be_v acknowledge_v by_o all_o divine_n for_o god_n shall_v not_o sweet_o put_v forward_o the_o will_n so_o dispose_v but_o in_o a_o force_a way_n hurry_v it_o on_o to_o its_o work_n which_o its_o own_o inclination_n be_v yet_o averse_a from_o it_o be_v therefore_o more_o meet_a to_o place_n in_o the_o will_n a_o certain_a habitual_a propension_n unto_o spiritual_a good_a which_o it_o may_v perform_v not_o by_o virtue_n of_o excite_a grace_n but_o from_o the_o infusion_n of_o habitual_a grace_n 4._o it_o be_v confess_v by_o all_o that_o the_o will_n unrenewed_a have_v no_o principle_n in_o it_o true_o spiritual_a and_o yet_o they_o will_v not_o deny_v that_o this_o act_n of_o turn_v unto_o god_n be_v true_o spiritual_a and_o supernatural_a but_o how_o the_o will_n only_o excite_v by_o motion_v grace_n and_o not_o change_v by_o grace_n regenerate_a shall_v be_v place_v in_o the_o rank_n of_o supernatural_a agent_n i_o understand_v not_o 5._o i_o will_v ask_v what_o be_v that_o which_o make_v a_o man_n true_o holy_a and_o godly_a not_o simple_o act_n good_a and_o godly_a for_o as_o the_o philosopher_n say_v act_n do_v not_o denominate_v the_o subject_a to_o be_v such_o it_o must_v therefore_o be_v some_o habit_n by_o virtue_n of_o which_o a_o man_n be_v call_v godly_a and_o holy_a but_o that_o habit_n be_v not_o place_v in_o the_o irrational_a part_n of_o the_o soul_n for_o that_o be_v not_o proper_o capable_a of_o virtue_n or_o vice_n but_o only_o by_o participation_n to_o wit_n so_o far_o as_o the_o rational_a part_n of_o the_o soul_n redound_v upon_o it_o but_o if_o it_o must_v be_v place_v in_o the_o rational_a part_n it_o must_v not_o be_v in_o the_o understanding_n for_o no_o man_n be_v good_a or_o evil_a only_o because_o he_o understand_v good_a and_o evil_a thing_n as_o aquinas_n very_o well_o observe_v but_o therefore_o be_v one_o call_v a_o good_a or_o evil_a man_n because_o he_o will_v those_o thing_n which_o be_v good_a and_o evil_a it_o remain_v therefore_o that_o the_o habit_n of_o holiness_n can_v be_v place_v anywhere_o but_o in_o the_o will_n as_o be_v the_o subject_n most_o proper_o capable_a both_o of_o habitual_a holiness_n as_o also_o of_o habitual_a corruption_n and_o rebellion_n which_o be_v contrary_a thereunto_o 6._o if_o the_o will_v be_v indifferent_a