Defense of the Synod of Dort, Chapter 2 · Defense 1 – Adversary 2
DEFENCE.
FIrst, the Scripture by them cited for their catholike cure, is violently stretched aboue it reach. For, neither are all in the world, no nor a handfull (in comparison of the rest) laden, as Christ there speaks; that is, feeling and groaning under the intollerable burthen of sin, and of the wrath of God due therunto. This did very few of the other Iews, and fewer of the Pharises, who thought themselues righteous: neither doth Christ so call (and therefore not offer to cure) by the preaching of the Gospell, every particular person in the world, from the beginning to the end therof. This truthlesse, and shamelesse assertion we shall hauehave occasion hereafter to confute at large. In the mean while, the place alledged proues onelyonly thus much, that Christ, the good Phisition offers to cure all that come to him, by the preaching of the Gospell, with feeling of their sins, and faith in his death, and no more.
Secondly, even for them that come to Christ, and are effectually healed by him; these men erre (not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God for the conversion of sinners) in affirming that he doth no more but provide the medicine of grace, and outwardly perswade to the receiving of it: or that there is (which they take wrongfully for granted) the same natural power in a wicked man to receiv grace offered by the Gospel, that there is in a sick man to take the medicine offered him by the Phisition. This capitall errour of theirs is in this place to be refuted, and the contrary truth to be cleared; namely, that for the effectuall converting of men, God not onelyonly provides the medicine (Christ and his benefits) and by the Gospell exhorts to the rece…t thereof; and so leavs men to their own freewill indifferently without further doing: But that w…thall, and aboue the former, hee, by the inw…id work of h…s holy Sp…it given them, makes effectuall the outward means, in opening the heart to attend to the things spoken, with reverence; in inlightning the understanding to discern and assent unto the same things, as true and good, and that with particular applications; in bending the will efficaciously to consent to the same; and all the affections of the soule to louelove and like them.
But before this be done by us, it is meet we answer an objectionPag. 3… ▪ or two, rather insinuated, then expresly made by them. Their words are, which also, as appears by the mark in the margent, they would hauehave accounted remarkeable, that Christ is willing and able to cure men by the means by which they are curable, and not by the means by which they cannot bee cured: for that his power herein is subject to his will, and his will is, that they should take the medicine.
The substance of their objection is, that God will not, and therefore cannot cure men otherwise then by their receiving the med…cine offered, Christ and his benefits. Very true, God w…ll not, nor can so doe by his revealed will, which to us is the rule of his power. But where they say; that Gods power is subject to his will, this must be otherwise understood, then as they do; conceiving it to be of that work of his will, by which he appoints others what they shall doe: whereas it is to be understood of that work of his will, by which he appoints in himselfe what he will doe, in or about others. As where it is said, The Lord is in heaven, and doth whatsoever Psal. 15. …pleaseth him; (that is, whatsoever he wils:) the meaning is not, that he doth, or that his power is ruled by what he commands others to doe, but by his will or purpose of doing himselfe what pleaseth him. God so wils the conversion of all, to whom the Gospell comes, as to command the same, and to approue it where it is: but hee wils the conversion of some, namely the elect, with another and further intention of will, setting a work the power of his Spirit in their hearts effectually, and as they speak irresistably to convert them; by Ezech. 11. 19, & chap. 36. 26. 27.taking away their stony heart, and giving them an heart of flesh, and by putting his Spirit within them, and causing them to walke in his statutes. Gods power then is not subject to his commanding will alwaies to work alike, where he commands alike: but it is subject to his purpose of will in himselfe, according to the good pleasure thereof to work, or not to work by means of his commanding will. The Arguments of proofeMat. 25. 26 Rom. 8. 30 Ephes. 1. 9. distinctly follow.
1 Arg. To receiv Christ and his grace, is to beleev in him; this beleeving, or faith by which we are saved, is the gift of God, Ioh. 1. 12. Eph. 2. 8.and not of our selues: So as not onelyonly the medicine it selfe, and offer of it, but also the hand to receiv it with (which is faith, and a beleeving heart) is Gods gift. The Phisition offers and giues to the receiver the medicine, but not the heart and hand …o receiv it: but God giues these also to them that doe receiv Christs justification and sanctification and salvation by him. If it be said, that God giues faith by preaching, and exhortation to receiv it, though he add no further work: I answer, that then God giues this gift and grace of faith, as well, and as much to them that receiv it not, but remain still unbeleevers, as to them that beleev: yea more to many unbeleevers, as having more, and more excellent outward means, then many that receiv it. It is therefore absurd to say, that God giues faith, or to beleev, unto him that never beleevs; specially faith being such a gift, as hath no existence, but in the heart of him that beleevs.
2 Arg. The Apostle elsewhere pronounceth all men, either… Cor. 2. 14 15. spirituall or naturall: Of the naturall man he testifieth; that he doth not, nor can discern of themselvs the things of God, but that they are foolishness unto him; but of the spirituall, that he discerns of such things and receivs them. The naturall man he neither doth nor can, the spiritual he both can and doth. What is it then that of the natural makes the spiritual man, that can doe these great things; the bare publishing and proclaiming of this spirituall and gracious medicine in and by Christ? Not so: for too many alas, remain naturall still, to whom the Gospell of grace is very plenteously preached. What then. Is it his freewill to receiv it, to whom it is preached? Not so, neither: for his will is but the will of a naturall man, who neither doth, nor can discern and receiv the things of God, till he become spirituall. It is then Gods holy Spirit, which he giues to one that hears the Gospell, and not to another; which makes one hearer spirituall, and not another: thereby changing both the will, and whole man of him to whom he giues it.
3 Arg. A third is taken from 1. Cor. 3. 6. 7. Paul plants, 1 Cor. 3. 6. 7Apollo waters, but God giues the increase. And, Neither he that plan…eth is any thing, nor he that watereth, but God that giveth the increase. The Corinthians did too highly advance the Ministers by them factiously adhered unto, as is evident; setting them in Christs, and Gods place: the Apostle thereupon puls them down, and sets them in their owne place, shewing that except God▪ and a further work then their preaching, how sound and excellent soever, all …s nothing. But by these mens device, there needs no further work of grace from God, then the gracious proclamation made by preaching, to be received by mans free-will: and so Gods further work of giving the increase, is quite shut out.
4. Arg. When the Iewes, Ioh. 6. murmured at Christs Ioh. 6 44.words, he to stop their mouths, and to prevent his Disciples offence-taking, sayth, that No man commeth unto him, except the father, which sent him, draw him. If any say, that God drawes men to Christ by the preaching of the Gospell, it is true, but not to the purpose of the place: for so the Iewes were drawn that came not, as well as they that came and beleeved. There is then requisite that men may come to Christ, Vers. 47.or beleeue on him, a further drawing, then that by the outward preaching onelyonly. Not that God drawes men, as horses draw a cart, or by any violence, or compulsion against, or without their will; but that he makes them by the inward work of his Spirit (joyned with the outward word) of unwilling, willing, effectually driveing away ignorance and rebellion; and so enlightening the minde, as to as…ns, and the will, to consent.
5 Arg. Lastly, these adversaries suffering their mercifull 2 Tim. 2. 24. 25.Phisition to go no further then the proclaiming & offering of the medicine of grace to the sick of sin, do therein make many despisers of all grace and goodnes, (so living and dying▪ and perishing for ever) more bound and beholden to God, and his grace, then many other the most faithfull, holy, and happy servants of Christ. The reason is plain; for that many liveing and dying impenitent, hauehave had the Gospell in a far more full and plenteous manner and measure published and preached unto them, with all other outward motives and provocations of grace; then many that truely beleev and repent. These adversaries to the grace of God, would make the faithfull servants of God more Pharisaicall then the Pharisees themselues; with whom they consort in divers poynts of their faith. The Pharisee that went up with the Publican into the Temple Luk. 18. 10 …1.to pray, yet thanked God that he was not like other men as extortioners, unjust, &c. nor as the Publican: But by these mens doctrine, we should thank our selues, …f we be not like the wicked and gracelesse men, and not God: for God, by their saying, hath not done so much for many of us, as for many of them, who hauehave enioyed more excellent outward means of grace offered, then many of the others. Oh you the followers of these guides; yea, you the guides your selvs, call to remembrance the dayes of your ignorance, and prophanenes, (specially divers of you) before your first conversion to the Lord… and consider whether you were not deeper rooted in sin, then many others, who yet hauehave not received the grace which you hauehave done, to beleev, and repent; and giuegive the glory to Gods grace, and not to your own free-will, that you beleev, repent, and obey, rather then they. Be not unmindfull of this unspeakable merciemercy of God towards you aboue others, equal and aboue you in the enioying of outward means, least it come to …o appeare in time, that you were never indeed partakers thereof.
ADVERSARIES.
NExt, they come to shew what Election is, laying down forPag. 36. 37. 38. 39. &c. that end, at large, the Parable of the mariage of the Kings son, Math. 22. and infisting specially upon the Lords conclusion, vers. 14. Many are called, but few are chosen: inferring thereupon, that it was the Kings will and pleasure, that all (the bidden guests) should come and bring their wedding garment.