The Doctrine of King James, Doctrine 5
The Doctrine of the Church of England concerning Free-will.
THe condition of man after the fall of Adam is such, Article 10.that hee cannot turne and prepare himselfe, by his owne naturall strength, and good workes, to Faith and calling vponupon God. Wherefore wee hauehave no power to doe good workes pleasant and acceptable to God, without the grace of Godby Christ preuenting vsus, that wee may hauehave a good will, and working with vsus when wee hauehave that good will.
Here wee see first, the seruitude of the Will vnderunder sinne in the state of naturall corruption. There is an impossibilitie of turning and preparing by naturall strength; and secondly the power of Grace on the Will in conuerting it; the Grace of God by Christ, doth so effectually preuent vsus, that it makes vsus to hauehave a good will.
And as the Church teacheth vsus this Doctrine, by Articles, so doth shee also teach and confirme it by practice. For in her Liturgie shee plainely acknowledgeth, both the slauery of the Will vnderunder sinne, and the effectuall power of grace on the Will. Concerning the bondage of the Will vnderunder sinne, it is said in a Collect: The frailtie of man without thee, cannot but fall. And in the Catechisme. Know this that thou are not able to doe these these things of thy selfe, nor to walke in the Commandements of God, and to serue him, without his speciall Grace.
And concerning the efficacie of Gods grace on the Will in turning and changing it, the Church directly makes it the foundation and ground-worke of diuers prayers: yea, in expresse tearmes she acknowledgeth Gods effectuall power on the Will to bee the ground of a prayer for the King. Almightie and euerlasting God, wee be taught by thy holy word, that the hearts of Kings are in thy Rule and Gouernance, and that thou dost dispose and turne them, as it seemeth best to thy godly wisdome. In which words Gods effectuall power on the Will is laid as the ground, and now see the prayer built vponupon it, which is of the same substance.
Wee beseech thee so to dispose and gouerne the heart of our most gracious King and Gouernor, that in all his Thoughts, Words, and Workes, hee may euer seeke thy Honour and Glory. There is also another for the King in the Letany, That God would so replenish him with the Grace of his Spirit, that hee may alway incline to his Will and walke in his Way.
In which prayers, our Chur…h both obeyeth the Scripture, and performeth her dutie: but on the other side it is considerable, whether that Doctrine bee not a kinde of Betraying and Disloyalty, that denies these prayers, by denying the effectuall power of God on the will of man. For how can he pray for the efficacy of Gods power on the will of his Soueraigne, that beleeues no such efficacie of Gods power to be at all on the Will?
Againe, the efficacie of Grace is yet more generally acknowledged by our Church, as wee may see in these patternes taken out of her Liturgy. By thy speciall Grace preventing vsus, thou dost put into our mindes good desires. Againe, Lord wee pray thee that thy Grace may preuent and follow vsus, and MAKE vsus continually to be giuen to all good workes. And againe, O God forasmuch as without thee, wee are not able to please thee, grant the working of thy mercy may in all things direct and rule our Hearts. But omitting diuers others, I adde these following, to shew that the efficacie of Grace, doth not onelyonly moue our wills to good, but establisheth vsus in goodnesse. GiueGive vsus grace that we be not like children, carried away with eueryevery blast of vaine doctrine, but firmely to be established in the truth of the holy Gospell. (To which prayer in these times especially it will not be amisse to say Amen.) Againe, Almighty God which doest MAKE the mindes of all faithfull men to bee of one Will, grant vntounto thy people that they may louelove the things, which thou commandest, and desire that which thou doest promise, that among the sundry, and manifold changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where as true Ioyes are to be found.
To conclude, the Letany is a president of diuers patternes; one while praying for the King, That his heart may be ruled in the Faith, feare, and louelove of God: and another while, That the Church may be ruled and gouerned vniversally in the righs way. And againe, that God will bring into the way of truth all such as hauehave erred, and are deceiued. Now these prayers while they begge of God, that good desires may bee put into the heart, that hearts may bee disposed and turned by God, &c. they doe plainely acknowledge the efficacy of Gods grace on the wills and hearts of men. For when they begge that Gods Grace may worke such effects; they acknowledge such effects to be the proper and kindly workes of Gods Grace.