that which is another's, &c. Luke xvi, 10, 12.-Because when they knew God, they glorified him not as God. Rom. i, 21.

3. This is a duly expected even of the Heathens.-That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him and find him. Acts xvii, 27.

4. And it is commanded.—He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear. Remember this, and shew yourselves men. Isa. xlvi, 8. -If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God. James i, 5. -Strive to enter in at the strait gate. Prepare the way of the Lord. Luke iii, 4, 6; Jer. iv, 3; Hos. x, 12.

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5. This is commended as a disposition and preparative to faith in Christ, and the Spirit of renovation.-To him that hath shall be given To you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. Matt. xiii, 10-12.-Thou hast revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight. Matt. xi, 5, 25, 26.—But he that doth truth, cometh to the light. John x, 27, iii, 21.—That on the good ground, are they, which, in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. Luke viii, 15.-Of such is the kingdom of God. Mark xix, 14.

6. This care and study is encouraged.-He will not quench the smoking flax, nor break the bruised reed. Matt. xii, 20.-Ho every one that thirsteth, that labours! Isa. lv, 1; Matt. xi, 28.— Draw nigh unto God, and he will draw nigh to you. James iv, 8. --They that desire to fear thy name. Nehemiah i, 11: Psalm Xxxviii, 9.

7. He adjourns the judgment upon Ahab's humiliation.-1 Kings xxi, 27, 29; see 2 Chron. xii, 12; Exodus i, 17, 20, 21.

8. He sends direction to such as are pricked to the heart, and enquire after him.---Acts ii, 37, 38. To the publicans and soldiers. Luke iii, 8, 10. To the jailor. Acts xvi, 29, 30. To Cornelius, after a most eminent and extraordinary manner. Acts x, 1---35.

9. He gives persons of such study and inclination, satisfaction and a blessing.---Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled. Matt. v, 6; see Luke i, 53.--God is a rewarder of all them that diligently seek him. Heb. xi, 6; Matt. xi,28.---Arise therefore, and be doing, and the Lord be with thee. 1 Chron. xxii, 16.

REJECTION II.

They do utterly DENY, that "effectual grace, whereby a man is converted, is an unresistible power."

The RESISTIBILITY and the IRRESISTIBILITY of Divine Grace, are the grand questions which have to be decided between the Calvinists and the Arminians. Were it impossible to resist this grace, or to pervert it from its

THE REASON.

1. Conversion is enjoined (on) us as OUR DUTY, and we are exhorted to it with promises and threatenings.---Turn ye, turn ye. Prov. i, 22; Ezek. xviii, 30, 32: Jer. vii, 2.

2. It is a matter of CHOICE.---Chuse whom ye will serve, chuse life. Deut. xxx, 19; Jos. xxiv, 15. See 2 Cor. v, 20; Isa. i, 19,

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3. The duty and the grace, enabling to it, may be NEGLECTED. ---How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation? 2 Cor. vi, 1; Heb. ii, 3; Jer. xxxvi, 6, 7.---Therefore we are admonished "Harden not your hearts." Heb. iii, 7, 8: Psalm xcv, 7, 8. ---Some temper of mind better qualified. See the First Negative, page 129.

4. God requires our ENDEAVOURS (1.) by way of preparation.--Laying aside the vail, (2 Cor. iii, 15.) prejudice, (John vii, 3---5, 52.) ambition, (John v, 44, xii, 42, 43.) all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all superfluity of naughtiness; (see Acts xiii, 45; Luke xvi, 14.) that we may with meekness, (Psalm xxv, 9, 12, 14; see Acts ii. 41.) as new-born babes receive the ministries of grace. (James i, 21; 1 Peter ii, 1, 2.) and as many as being in pursuit of the world to come,] were thus ordained, [addicted, disposed to eternal life, believed. Acts xiii, 48.

When being wrought into this temper and frame of spirit, by God's preventing grace, we are fit for the kingdom of Christ, Luke ix, 62.

5. God requires our endeavours, (2.) by way of co-operation, to make his saving grace effectual, which argues it is not an un- | resistible power.—Behold I stand at the door and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, (which door turns upon two hinges, faith and obedience, Rom. i, 16; 1 Thess. ii, 13; Ephes. iii, 17; Rom. vi, 17.) I will come in to him &c. Rev. iii, 20.

proper use, the warnings and threatenings of scripture would be nugatory and of no practical effect: Under such circumstances there would be no need for saying to sanctified persons, Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby YE ARE SEALED unto the day of redemption.'

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The Calvinists are unwilling to put the matter upon this issue, and they always try to evade the question. Yet that part of the DECLARATION of Arminius before the States of Holland is not the less true, in which he says: "The whole controversy reduces itself to the solution of this Question, Is the grace of God a certain irresistible force? That is, the controversy does not relate to those actions or operations which may be ascribed to grace, (for I acknowledge and inculcate as many of these actions or operations as any man ever did,) but it relates solely to the mode of operation,-whether it be irresistible or not: With respect to which, I believe, according to the scriptures, that many persons resist the Holy Spirit and reject the grace that is offered." (Works of ARMINIUS, Vol. I, page 600.)-EDITOR.

6. That this grace is not unresistible, appears further, by God's option: O that there were such a heart in them, that they would fear me &c. (as above.)

7. He complains also of men's perverseness and contumcey, obstructing the work of grace in themselves.-What could have been done more to my vineyard that I have not done in it? Isa. v, 4; see Mark vi, 6.-They have eyes to see and see not: they have ears to hear and hear not, for they are a rebellious house. Ezek. xii, 2; see Matt. iii, 15.—But they rebelled, and vexed his Holy Spirit. Isa. lxiii, 7-10.-But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear. Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the Lord of hosts hath sent in his Spirit, by the former prophets. Zech. vii, 10-12.

8. Some are captivated to the obedience of this grace, while others stand out in rebellion against the power of it.-Some gladly receive it, others do thrust it from them, contradicting and blaspheming. Acts ii, 41: xiii, 48, 45. See 1 Thess. ii, 13: 2 Thess. ii, 10, 11.—Thou art not sent to a people of a strange speechSurely had I sent thee to them, they would have hearkened unto thee; but the house of Israel will not hearken unto thee. Ezek. iii, 5-7.-Tyre and Sidon, and Sodom would have repented: but you will not. Matt. xi, 20-22.-The men of Nineveh repented at the preaching of Jonah; but [you resist a greater light and force of grace] behold, a greater than Jonah is here. Matt. xii, 41.-To the one, we are the savour of life unto life; and to the other, the savour of death unto death. 2 Cor. ii, 14—16. 9. The Lord punisheth the refractory, for resisting the work of his grace and Spirit.--For the earth which drinketh in the rain,

-and bringeth forth fruit-receiveth blessing from God. But that which beareth thorns and briers, is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing, whose end is to be burned. Heb. vi, 7, 8.---Because I have called and ye refused, &c. Prov. i, 24 &c.---Therefore came a great wrath from the Lord. Zech. vii, 11---13.---This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men love darkness rather than light. John iii, 19.---In thy filthiness is lewdness: because I have purged thee, and thou wast not purged, thou shalt not be purged from thy filthiness any more, till I have caused my fury to rest upon thee. Ezek xxiv, 13. See Matthew xiii, 15 &c.; Acts xxviii, 24 &c.; 2 Chron. xxiv, 19, 20.---God resisteth the proud but giveth grace to the humble. James iv, 6. See the Fourth and Seventh Affirmatives, pages 124, 127.

REJECTION III.

They do utterly DENY, that "God doth bestow grace sufficient for faith and conversion, only upon those whom, accord

ing to the decree of his election, he willeth to convert unresistibly; and that he neither doth nor willeth to bestow on the Reprobates grace necessary to faith and salvation."

THE REASON.

1. The Lord is good to all, and his tender mercies are over all his works. Psalm cxlv, 8, 9.-He will have all men to be saved. 1 Tim. ii, 3, 4.—He will not that any perish. 2 Peter iii, 9.— Go, preach the Gospel to every creature- -and they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Mark xvi, 15, 20. What could have been done more? Isa. v, 4. See Mark vi, 6: Jer. xxxvi, 6, 7.-Why will ye die? Ezek. xviii, 31.-As I live, saith the Lord, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked. Ezek. xxxiii, 11. See the proofs for Conditionate Election, administration of necessary and sufficient means, (pages 97 and 99.) and the seriousness of God's call: being the Seventh Affirmative proposition above, page 127.

2. He threatens to withdraw his grace from men, ONLY for their stubborness and rebellion against him and it.-Thereforethe kingdom of God shall be taken from you. Matt. xxi, 41, 43. -Or else I will remove thy candlestick out of his place. Rev. ii, 5.-None of those men who were bidden, shall taste of my supper. Luke xiv, 24.-How often would I, and

ye would not! -But now are they hidden from thine eyes. Luke xiii, 34: xix, 42.-But whosoever hath not [ made good use of preventing grace, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables; because they, seeing, see not: And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, by hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand- -for their eyes have they closed, lest at any times they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted and I should heal them. Matt. xiii, 12—15. See Acts xxviii, 26, &c. Who hold the truth in unrighteousness -and turn it into a lie; for this cause God gave them up to vile affections. Rom. i, 18, 21, 24, 25, 28.-Because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved; for this cause God gave them up. 2 Thess. ii. 10-12.-Because I have called, and ye refused- -Ye also shall call, and I will not answer you; I will laugh at your calamities. Prov. i, 24, &c.God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble. James iv, 6. See the Texts cited against Absolute Reprobation, page 103, 1 Chron. xxviii, 9; 2 Chron. xv, 2; 1 Peter ii, 7, 8; Zech. ix, 15, 17. I will love them no more, because they did not hearken.

REJECTION IV.

They do utterly DENY, that "God is simply unwilling thut a man should do (1.) more good than he doth, or (2.) omit more evil than he omitteth; or that he hath precisely decreed from eternity, that both GOOD and EVIL should be so dome as they are."

THE REASON.

1. His command.-Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, with all thy heart, and with all thy mind and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength. Abstain from all appearance (kind) of evil. 1 Thess. v, 22.-Have no fellowship with unfruitful works of darkness. Ephes. v, 11.-Wherein have I wearied thee? Micah vi, 3. See Phil. iii, 12-15. My yoke is easy. Matt. xi,29. Receive not the grace of God in vain. 2 Cor. vi, 1.-Grow in grace. 2 Peter iii, 18.-Negotiamini dum venio, "Trade till I come." Wherefore (hast thou kept my talent in a napkin, and) gavest it not into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury ?. -Cast that unprofitable servant, &c. Luke xix, 12, 20.-Ye did run well, who did drive you back? Gal. v, 7.

2. But what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. Jude 10.-Their heart is FULLY SET IN THEM to do evil. Eccles. viii, 11.-They devise iniquity upon their beds. Micah ii, 1.-They rebel against the light. Job xxiv, 13. Consider verses 15, 16, 17. See Rom. i, 32: Isaiah xxx, 8-11. See also the proofs of the Affirmative in the Sixth Assertion, page 126.

REJECTION V.

They do utterly DENY, that "God doth outwardly call some, whom he is unwilling inwardly to call and truly to convert, and that before they have rejected the grace of conversion."

THE REASON.

1. This is a faithful saying, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. 1 Tim. i, 15; Luke xix, 10.-To call sinners to repentance, (Matt. xi, 13.) to call them to the obedience of faith, (Rom. xvi, 25, 26.) unto holiness, (1 Thess. iv, 7.) out of darkness into his marvellous light, that we might set forth his praise. 1 Peter ii, 9; Eph. i, 12. Why should he not be serious in all this, secing it is according to his PURPOSE and GRACE? 2 Tim. i, 9.