Ellis on Article X: Of Free-Will

Obj. 1. That God commands Men to turn to him, and to believe in him, Zach. 1. 3. Mark 1. 15. and in many other places to perform all Works of Piety : Therefore this they can do, ng #* would be commanded to no putr- pose. |

C 2 Anl.

28 A Defence of the

Answ. From a Precept, to an Ability to perform it, we can draw no Argument : We can indeed, do Offices of Piety, and thar only | when we are adted and excited to them. God gives whar. he Commands, and ’ helps what he has given ; without Him we cannot be good, and without our selves he will nor make us so. |

Obj. 2. Iz is tyrannical to punish any one for not doing what he could not fo much as Will or Desire.

Answ. He would be indeed a Tyrant, that should command such things to be done as are not in Mens Power: Bur God made Man with Abilities ro fulfil his Commands ; And then God requires of Man Obedience to his I aw, not by setting himself upon the exact fulfilling of it by his own feeble —_—; but, upon considering the imposiibility of rhe thing, with respect to the Powers of Nature, ro betake himself ‘ro Christ, rhrongh whom the Faithful are able ro do all things.

Obj.‘3. 1f Man had not a Free-Will, he would Sin necessarily, and then ought mot to be punished, and fo all Use of Exhortations, Re- proofs, and all endeavour after Good Works would be taken away.

Answ. A’ Man without the help of Grace fins neceslarily ; whosoever is under this ne- cessity, . ut 1s his Faulr ; for he has drawn rhis

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neceffity of finning upon himself, and there- |

fore is [justly punistked by God : And then as

for the Use of Exhorrations, that is not raken - away With those. that have the sufficient A(-

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be periormed-by rhe strength of Nature, are | DN ”«- useful

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useful in this respect, that they put us in mind of onr Weakness, invite us to an earnest en» deavour to pray, and so lead us ro Christ, who is wont to affift the weak : And these are the efficacious means rhat God: ( rogerher with his Grace) makes use of in Man’s Conversion ; that whar is impossible ro Nature, may in this | way become very ease.

Obj. 4. Men are called Labourers, Mart.20.3. and Labourers together with God in the business of Salvation, 1 Gor. 3. 9. | |

Answ. Men do indeed co-operate with God by Grace, not by their own Strength ; and therefore they are said ro co-operate in respect of aflisting, and nor of -preventing Grace.