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EZek. 36.26. A new heart also I will giue you, and a new spi∣rit will I put within you: and I will take away the stonie heart out of your flesh, and I will giue you an heart of flesh.
Note then, That by taking away the olde heart al-together, hee showeth that there is no fitnesse in our naturall dis∣position, to will or co-operate with his grace: and that by giving a new heart al-together, that it is hee that worketh in vs by his grace, both the willing of
our conversion, as also the performance thereof, as the onlie Author and finisher of our faith.
Iohn 15.16. Yee haue not cho∣sen mee, but I haue chosen you, &c.
But note, that if it bee in our will, to imbrace grace offered, or not to imbrace it (as the Papists say) then it will fol∣low, that by the power of our owne free-will, accepting of grace, (which is indifferentlie offered to all alyke) that wee choose God, and hee not vs.
1. Cor. 4.7. For who hath made thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receiue? Now if thou didst re∣ceiue it, why doest thou glorie, as if thou hadst not received it?
To this Question a Papist would an∣swere, that the power of his owne free-will, that accepted grace offered, made him to differ from another; and not God, or the power of his grace onlie. Hee will also say, (according to their doctrine) that in the worke of his con∣version, hee had freedome of will, which hee did not receiue by grace; and there∣fore hath that where-of to glorie, which hee received not.
2. Cor. 3.5. Not that wee are
sufficient of our selues, to thinke anie thing, as of our selues: but our sufficiencie is of God.
Note therefore, That our abilitie to will our owne conversion, or to accept grace offered, is all of God allanerlie.
Philip. 2.13. For it is God which worketh in you, both to will, and to doe, of his good pleasure.
Remarke then, That it is expresselie called Gods worke in vs, of effectuall grace, to bee willing of our owne con∣version, and not a freedome by nature.
Ephes. 2.5. Even when wee were dead in sinnes, he hath quicke∣ned vs, together with Christ: for by grace yee are saved.
Note then, As a dead man of himselfe cannot will his owne quickening, but is meerlie passiue in the act there-of, so nei∣ther can a dead man in sinne, of him∣selfe will his owne conversion; but is meerlie also a sufferer in his first turning to God.
Iohn 6.44. No man can come to Mee, except the Father draw him.
Note then, When Hee sayeth, No man can come, that hee breaketh (sayth Saint
Ierome) the prowde freedome of man's will. Hieron. lib. 3. adn. Pelagianos.