Rome ruin'd by VVhite Hall, or, The papall crown demolisht

SECT. 7.

Object. VVHether doe we sinne of necessity, or of a voluntary disposition: for if it be of necessity, it ceaseth to be sin, and if it be voluntary, it may be avoïded.

Answ. Sinne is both of necessity and voluntary: First, it is of necessity in respect of Adams fall, by which we became Bond∣slaves to sin and Satan. Secondly, in that we have originally a seed of that defect in us procured by him, and so can will nothing but that which is evill; that as the Apostle saith, We are not suffici∣ent of our selves to think any thing of our selves, as of our selves, 2 Cor. 3. 5. it being proper to God alone to work in us both to will and to doe of his good pleasure.

Object. The Apostle saith, he would that which was good, though he could not accomplish it, Rom. 7. 15. Therefore man of himselfe can will that which is good.

Ans. The Apostle in that place speaketh not of the Naturall man, but of the regenerate; for he addeth, I am delighted in the Law according to the inward man; but (saith he) I see another law in my members, resisting the law of my minde, Rom. 7. 22. And it will fully appeare that we are corrupt in both parts, viz. in soule and body: For that which is born of the flesh is flesh, John 3. 6. And, to be carnally minded i•• death, Rom. 8. 6. And therefore in vain doe we seek in man either integrity, understanding, or the feare of God: For the will is so fast bound by the slavery of sinne, that it cannot move it selfe to that which is good, and much lesse apply it selfe thereunto. For such a motion is onely a beginning of turning unto God, which is wholly attributed to the grace of God in Scripture; as in Jer. 31. 18. where Ephraim is said to desire of God, to turn him that he might be turned. And the Spouse in the Canticles, Draw me, and I will run after thee, with divers other places of Scripture which doth testifie the same. It is therefore proper to Nature to will that which is evill, and to Grace that

which is good, whereupon it followeth that men are drawn unto evill by necessity of will, and yet they are not constrained to com∣mit it. Again, on the other side it commeth to passe through the the infinite goodnesse of God, that godly men cannot doe evill through any forceable compulsion; for otherwise the minde of man in its owne nature is voyd of all grace, for which cause it is said that he that hath begun a good worke in us will also finish it, Phil. 1. 6. & 2. 13. as also, It is God that worketh in us both to will and to doe of his good pleasure. The Lord also speaking by his Prophet, saith, that he will give his people a new heart, and take from them their stony heart, and also put his Spirit in the middest of them, and make them walke in his Commandements, Ezec. 35. 26. by which it appeares, that all the inclinations to goodnesse pro∣ceed only from Gods Spirit moving us thereunto, secretly say∣ing, This is the way, follow it.

Grace then goeth before every good work, it doth not follow after, but so that will, and desire doth accompany it, not lead it; For the will doth worke by grace, the Lord preventing him that is unwilling that he may be more willing, and that he may not will in vaine, so that there can no will be found which is incli∣ning to good save in the elect, but the cause of election must be sought without men; whereby it is proved, that man of himself hath not a right will, but that it floweth from the same good pleasure whereby he was elected before the Creation of the world; as also that the beginning of willing, and doing well, proceedeth from faith, and faith is the gift of God; it must needs then follow, that it is of meere grace, when we begin to will that which is good, being inclined and bent naturally to evill. As also by the instance of David, who desired the Lord, to create in him a new heart, Psal. 51. 12. yea we are as prone thereunto, as the sparkes to fly upward.

Notes

• Sin is both of necessity and voluntary.
• M••n corrupt both in soule and body.
• The effects of Nature and Grace.
• Man of him∣self hath not a right will.