Two Treatises, Treatise 1 · Section 21
SECT. 21.
…F now we further take a view, It is further ſhewed whence mans converſion is. It is from Gods ſpeciall grace, who removes the aforeſaid impediments. 2 T…. 2.25. Asand aske whence …is power of thinking, con…iving, Willing, ſpeaking, be…nning, doing, and perfecting good worke is (for ſuch …ings are done as wee ſee …he Faith full, and in ſuch …ive and dye in the Faith … feare of God) the an…er is readily given; It is not from our ſelves ſo) …m God and his effectuall …ee; for hee it is that re…oves the firſt. Obſtacle ſpoken of) which is our …turall Ignorance, by re…ling his will effectually thoſe that are hi…, giving …em Repentance, to the ac…owledgement of the Truth. Which effect, though to the Miniſters and Teachers of the Truth (who know not before-hand the effec… of their miniſtery in regard eſpecially of particular perſons) it goe with a peradventure, 1Our ignorance.yet in regard … God, and of thoſe who… God hath given unto Chriſt it is without all peradventure; and given according to Gods good pleaſure, with ſpeciall choyce … ſome, not al, and that by the free gift and gracious working of Chriſt, according to that of Chriſt him ſelfe I thanke thee O Father becauſe thou haſt hi… theſe things from the wi… and prudent, Mat. 11.25, 26, 27.and haſt revealed them unto Babe… Even ſo Father, for ſo … ſeemed good in thy ſight … All things are delivere… to me of my Father; And no man knoweth the Son but the Father; Neither knoweth any man the Father ſave the Sonne, and he to whomſoever the Son will reveale him. See Iohn 6.45.
The ſecond impediment which was our naturall un…eliefe, 2Our unbeliefe. Epheſ. 2.13.making us fly from God) he removes by giving is Sonne Chriſt, and offring …imſelfe propitious to us in …im, there by holding out …e Golden Scepter; yea …aking us (who ſometimes …ere farre off) nigh by the …oud of Chriſt.
But thirdly and chiefely, 3Our naturall inability.…e takes away that naturall …ability which is in us, by …abling and giving not …ely power to Repent, Be…ve, and doe good, and to perſevere therein, but the very act of al theſe, (as is often noted) Iſ. 26.12. Phi. 2.1…. So that now Paul, who looking to his owne ſtrength, could ſay for himſelfe and others, We are not ſufficient of our ſelves, to thinke any thing as of our ſelves; yet elſe where can ſay, 2 Cor. 3.5. Phil. 4.13.I can doe all things through Chriſt which ſtrengtheneth me… and our ſufficiency is of G… ▪Which w…rk… of God is diverly called in Scripture.
Now this ſufficient grace of God is his efficient or effectuall grace, as is proved. In which regard the worke of Gods grace and ſpir… in Scripture is called … Creation, Pſal. 51 12. Eph. ….10. Vivification, Epheſ. 2.… Regeneratiō, Ioh. 3.5. Renovation, Eph. 4.23. Th… taking a way of the ſto… heart and giving a hea… of Fleſh. Ezek. 36.26. Converſion Ier. 31.18. A Drawing. Ioh. 6.44. A pulling a man out of the Kingdome of Darkeneſſe, into the Kingdome of Light. Col 1.13. I Peter 2.9. Acts 26.18. A working of the will and deed. Phil. 2.13. A writing of the Law in the heart. Ier. 31.33. In a word A raiſing from the dead John 5.25 Eph. 2.5.