Peaceable Disquisitions, Chapter 5
CHAP. V.
Of the Reſiſtibility or Irreſiſtibility of the Spirits Operations, in reference to his laſt Chapter.
I Come to the Authors laſt Chapter, which is, concerning the manner and meaſure of the holy Spirus operations. And I obſerve here the Controverſie of it, the Doctrine of it, and the Ʋſe of it.
For the Controverſie of it, it may be reduced to two Queſtions. Whether the Operations of Gods Spirit be by way of moral ſwaſion, or phyſical operation? and whether theſe Operations, or the effectual grace of God on the heart in a Sinners converſion be irreſiſtible? I will content my ſelf with the laſt point, unto which the other I conceive, may be reduced; and this is a controverſie (as others before) which hath the Arminians on one ſide, and Synod of Dort on the other. The Dr. is for the Synod we may be ſure, and this Author for the Arminians. The only thing to be underſtood between both, is, what they mean by the term irreſiſtitle? If the Dr. hath received by it an apprehenſion, as if the work of grace on the ſoul was ſuch as diſarmed the will of its liberty, and left it no power of reſiſting, according to that ſaying which this Author quotes for his, that the Will cannot make uſe of that grace which it can refuſe, the Doctor is out; for the Will cannot be without natural liberty of refuſing or willing, and if that beraken away, it is deſtroyed: but if herein he be miſeited, or his intention perverted, and he does hold only that this work is irreſiſtible in regard to the event, that is, where that grace which is effectual, is given, it will infallibly have its effect, the Doctor is in the right. Again, if this Author, by reſiſtible, underſiands, that where this grace is given, or where the Spirit thus operates, the will hath not only power of reſiſting, but many times does reſiſt, ſo that Chriſt may ſay but to any one who hath that grace, I would, and you would not this Author is out; for this ſpecial effectual grace flowes from the decree of Election, and can neverfail: but if he mean by reſiſtible only that though the will be carried by it, and does not reſiſt, yet it hath power ſtill to reſiſt, ſo that its liberty for all that cannot be loſt, he is in the right. The decree of Election, and this grace that flows from it, is not conſiſtent with a contrary event, but they are conſiſtent with a contrary power, a power, I mean, to do the contrary. They will certainly and infallibly carry the Will, becauſe Gods will muſt ſtand, and his decree cannot fail, but the power of doing the contrary, (or not doing) is not inconſiſtent with the certainty of the thing being done. The power of doing otherwiſe, and doing otherwiſe are two things. Where the Decree, and Grace is, they infallibly produce the effect, that we ſhall not do otherwiſe: but the power of doing otherwiſe is untouched. The thing is neceſſary in regard to the decree, and it is free or contingent in regard to this power in man to reſiſt. Man hath power to reſiſt, ſo grace is reſiſtible: but it is irreſiſtable in regard to the act or effect. When the power then and liberty remains, this work of God upon the ſoul is not by ſuch a way of phyſical operation, as the raiſing one from the dead, or as creation is, but it is by ſuch a way as is ſuitable to a free creature, who is brought to act out of election; it is by Argument and the Word, as well as by the Divine motion. It is therefore, for ought I ſee, neither by meer phyſical operation, nor only by moral ſwaſion, but by an omnipotent perſwaſion. By ſuch a ſweet attemperation to the faculties, as will infallibly carry the Will, and yet not by compulſion. If you ask me any farther, I will be exculed. I remember Chriſt ſpeaking of this work, compares it to the wind which we cannot perceive, either whence it comes, or whither it goes. And if we cannot tell the things that are with us, how ſhall our veſſels comprehend the wayes of the moſt High; the workings, the manner, and the meaſure of the working, of the Spirit of God? I muſt add this only which is open, Let the term irreſiſtible be expounded right, I am for the Doctor; Let the term reſiſtible be expounded right, I am for this Author. When I agree then with both of them, if they both will agree with me, we muſt grow all friends in this point.
For the Doctrine of the Chapter it comes to this ſumm, which I can give here in the words of the Author. The holy ſpirit of God doth in that manner work his graces in us, that they are ſtill the genuine effects of the Evidence and Motives of the Goſpel; Of the natural uſe of our faculties, the underſtanding and will; and of our own care and diligence in uſing the external means of grace. His operations in us make us capable of recovering our ſelves by degrees; and all the while there is no ſenſible difference between them, and the natural operatious of our minds; and yet we are ſure we have his aſſiſtance, and help in all the good we do, and without it we can do nothing at all to ſaving purpoſes. This is the Doctrine, which if no inferences but Orthodox be drawn from it, I take to be ſound. We have then ſome Ʋſe of it, which is alſo very good. There is but a little of it, but if he had been more in that, and leſs in quarrels with the Doctor, it had yet been all better. And ſo God bleſs the hopeful Author in his Studies.