Explication of the Decrees and Operations of God, Title page – Preface
A Humble ENDEAVOUR Of some Plain and Brief EXPLICATION OF THE Decrees and Operations of God, About the FREE ACTIONS of MEN: More Especially Of the Operations of DIVINE GRACE.
Written by Mr. JOHN CORBET, late Minister of CHICHESTER.
LONDON, Printed for Tho. Parkhurst, at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside, near Mercers-Chappel, 1683.
THE PREFACE.
THe things here discussed I have studied many years; and what, by the Writings of Learned Men, and by discoursing with them, and by my own ratiocination, grounded on the Holy Scripture, I have apprehended▪ nearest the Truth, which I have been feeling after, I have collected in this narrow Scantling. I have been led into this search, not out of vain Curiosity, but an honest Desire to gain as clear a Knowledge in these Points, as I can reach to, that I might be able with more assurance to unfold the same to others, as far as is requisite for their Edification.
Though the Counsels and Wayes of God cannot be found out unto Perfection, yet the Light, of Scripture and Nature leads us to think and speak of them so as is most agreeable to his Infinite Wisdom and Goodness, and so as his Justice and Truth may be cleared, and the freeness and largeness of his Mercy magnified, and that the glorious Power of his Grace, and the deplorable weakness of Fallen Man, may be acknowledged, and that penitent Sinners may be sufficiently incouraged, and that the impenitent may be evidently self-condemned.
That which is set down in this Enquiry, is mostly in order to the clearing and confirming of the Principles here following.
1. The help of Divine Grace is the prime and main Cause of all the Good that dwells in us, and that is done by us: But our own Wills are the main Cause of the Evil that is done by us, and of our abiding in that Evil State into which our Nature is fallen, and God is no Cause thereof at all.
2. God doth decree to bring some to Salvation by his Free Grace and Love: And he doth not decree to damn any, but for sin, as the Cause of their damnation; which sin he doth not decree, nor effect▪ but foresee.
3. God doth ascertain the Conversion and Salvation of his Elect; but he doth not effect it without their own concurrence in a subordinate way. I speak of those that attain to the use of Reason, not of Infants, Ideots, and Mad-men, whose Case is of different and peculiar nature.
4. Though Election doth infer a Certainty that the Elect shall attain to Grace and Glory; yet Non-election doth infer no Necessity of the sin and damnation of the Non-elect, save only that which is called Necessitas consequentiae, or Necessity in order of Argumentation, and is Necessity but improperly so called, and implies no Necessitation of the Event.
5. Though God doth not simply will the Event of the Conversion and Salvation of all, to whom the Gospel is made known; yet he wills it so far, and in such manner, as doth abundantly declare his good will towards men; and doth assure the diligent of good success in their indeavours; and doth convict the negligent of being inexcusable despisers of his Grace towards them.
6. God hath given us all some help of grace, more or less, in order to our Spiritual Recovery. The said help may be improved by us to the obtaining of more▪ And it is not Gods ordinary way to deny more help, or to withdraw what is given, but upon the abuse of what is given, and the resisting of what is offered, and for our not doing not only what we ought, but what we might do.
According to these Principles I have proceeded. My indeavour hath been accompanied with a sense of my own great defectiveness in the Knowledge of these things: But I have done, as I was able, and am willing to know wherein soever I have erred. The perfect clearing of all things, and the solving of all doubts in these Mysterious Points, may be above the reach of mortal men. The great Apostle said, We know but in part. But Truths of the greatest Moment and Evidence may not be disbelieved or doubted of, because we cannot solve all Difficulties about lesser and obscurer Questions relating to those grand Truths.