of grace, whom for their former and present contempt he dothIsa. 6.9. blind and harden, whose condemnation is aggravated by this, that they have, and doe live under great and good teaching? Doth not the Law exact perfection of them who are under the Law, when it is impossible by reason of the infirmity of the flesh? Is not the rebellion of the flesh repugnant to the Law of God, from which it is impossibe to be freed in this life? In the Covenant of grace, perfection of faith and obedience is commanded, otherwise imperfection should not be a sinne: but that is impossible to man, whilest he carries about this body of sin. And if impossible be not the object of Gods will in this sence, he that by custome in evill hath contracted an habit, that he cannot but sin, should not offend, and he that is carried with most violence of mind unto evill, should be least evill.
They demand further, how could God approve that such should repent and believe, as doe not these things from him, and by the power of his grace, who therefore might glory, as he would have no creature to doe? 1 Cor. 1. 30. And it is a most sure thing, God would have no creature to glory in himselfe, and most true, that faith will not, cannot glory in any thing, but in the Lord, and therefore we acknowledge that God of his grace hath chosen some men to faith and holinesse, as in justice he purposed to leave and forsake others for their sin. For if God decreed not to give men faith and repentance, he is not the authour of them. For God doth nothing in time, but what he decreed to doe before all time. To exclude boasting it sufficeth not to say, that God gives grace, whereby we might believe, if we will, specially if we use our naturall gifts well: for that makes ability to believe only to be of God, and that in part procured by our selves, but faith and repentance to be from the free use of our owne will, whereby we are distinguished from others which believe not, to whom God wished as well, and who received as much grace from God, perhaps more. See Groven. dissert. de elect. & fid. praevis. But leaving that matter for the time, to the objection the answer is plaine, that as God commandeth wicked men to repent and believe, so he testifieth what he doth desire and approve, but with-holding the internall and effectuall working of his Spirit, they will not repent through their perversenesse. As it is a duty which God requireth, so it is approved, but without his grace it cannot be per-formed.
