Wilson on Article X: Of Free-Will

• Adam took upon him to eat thereof, and in so doing he died the death ; that is to say, he became mortal, he lost the favour of God, he was cast out of Paradise, he was no longer a citizen of heaven, but a fire-brand of hell, and a bond-slave to the devil. So that now neither he, nor any of his, had any right or interest at all in the kingdom of heaven ; but were become plain reprobates and castaways, being perpetually damned to the ever- lasting pains of hell-fire. Horn. xxv. 2.

As transgressors of God’s commandment, they and their pos- terity are brought to a perpetual shame and confusion. Horn. xvii. 1.

In this so great misery and wretchedness, if mankind could have recovered himself again, and obtained forgiveness at God’s hands, then had his case been somewhat tolerable ; because he might have attempted some way how to deliver himself from eternal death. But there was no way left unto him ; he could do nothing that might pacify God’s wrath; he was altogether unprofitable in that behalf. Horn. xxv. 2.

Man’s nature hath been so corrupted and destroyed with this active mischief, that if the goodness and mercy of Almighty God had not with applying a remedy holpen and relieved us in affliction, like as we fell in our wealth into all calamities, and in our bodies into all miseries of diseases, and of death, so should we of necessity fall headlong iuto darkness and everlasting night, and into fire unquenchable, there, with all kind of punishment, to be perpetually tormented. — Oh deadly and horrible plague and calamity by sin ! Novell, p. 40.

b We are tied and bound with the chain of our sins. Occas, Prcwers.

0 Almighty God, who alone canst order the unruly wills and affections of sinful men, kc. Fourth Sunday after Easter.

The image of God in man is, since the fall of Adam, by ori- ginal sin and by evil custom, so darkened, and natural judgment so corrupted, that natural man doth not sufficiently understand what difference is between honest and dishonest, right and wrong. Nowell, p. 29.

• A deceived heart hath turned out strengh, Christ died for the him aside, that he cannot deliver ungodly. Rom. v. 6. God having his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie raised up his Sou Jesus, sent him in my right hand ? Isa. xliv. 20. to bless you, in turning away O Israel, thou hast destroyed thy- every one of you from his iniqui- self, but iu me is thy help. Hosea ties. Acts iii. 26. As the Father xm. 9. When we were yet with- raiseth up the dead and nuickeneth

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self, cby his own natural strength and good

For in ourselves (as of ourselves) we find nothing, whereby we may be delivered from this miserable captivity, into the which we were cast, through the envy of the devil, by breaking God’s commandment in our first parent Adam. We are all ” be- come unclean :” Ps. xiv. 3. but we all are not able to cleanse ourselves, nor make one another of us clean. We are by nature ” the children of God’s wrath :” Eph. ii. 3. but we are not able to make ourselves the children and inheritors of God’s glory. We are ” sheep that run astray :” 1 Pet. ii. 25. but we cannot of our own power come again to the sheepfold, so great is our im- perfection and weakness. Horn. ii. 2.

We must beware and take heed, that we do in no wise think in our hearts, imagine or believe, that we are able to repent aright, or to turn effectually unto the Lord by our own might and strength. For this must be verified in all men, ” Without me ye can do nothing.” (John xv. 5.) Again, ” Of ourselves we are not able as much as to think a good thought.” (2 Cor. iii. 5.) And in another place, ” It is God that worketh in us both the will and the deed. (Phil. iii. 13.) And therefore that holy writer and ancient father Ambrose doth plainly affirm, ” that the turning of the heart unto God is of God,” as the Lord himself doth tes- tify by his prophet, saying, ” And I will give thee an heart to know me, that I am the Lord ; and they shall be my people, and f will be their God ; for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.” Horn, xxxii. 1.

Create and make in us new and contrite hearts. Coll. for Ash- Wednesday.

Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love thee, &c. Com. Service,

O God, make clean our hearts within us ; and take not thy Holy Spirit from us. Morn. Prayer^

O Lord, from whom all good things do come ; grant to us thy humble servants, that by thy holy inspiration we may think those things that be good, and by thy merciful guiding may perform the same. Fifth Sunday after Easter.

them, even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. John v. 21. And you, being- dead in your sins, and the uucircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him. Col. ii. 13. Whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. Acts xvi. 14. Him hath God ex- alted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins. Acts v. 31. They glorified God, saying, Then hath God also

to the Gentiles granted repeptance unto life. Acts xi. 18. The pre- parations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the Lord. Prov. xvi. 1. Turn us,

0 God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease. Ps. lxxxv. 4. Turn thou me, and

1 shall be turned; for thou art the Lord my God. Surely after that I was turned I repented. Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved ; for thou art my praise. Jcr. xvii. 14.

works, d to faith and calling upon God; where-

c Hitherto we have heard what we are of ourselves ; very sin- ful, wretched, and damnable. Again, we have heard how that of ourselves, and by ourselves, we are not able either to think a good thought, or work a good deed, so that we can find in our- selves no hope of salvation, but rather whatsoever maketh unto our destruction. Horn. ii. 2.

It is the Holy Ghost, and no other thing that doth quicken the minds of men ; stirring up good and godly motions in their hearts, which are agreeable to the will and commandment of God ; such as otherwise of their own crooked and perverse nature they should never have. Horn, xxviii. 1.

Almighty God, who seest that we have no power of our- selves to help ourselves, &c. Coll. for the second Sunday in Lent.

Grant to us, Lord, we beseech thee, the Spirit to think and do always such things as be rightful ; that we, who cannot do any thing that is good without thee, may by thee be enabled to live according to thy will, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Coll. for the ninth Sunday after Trinity.

d The first coming unto God is through faith. Horn. iv. 1.

The spring head of justification is the mercy of God, which is conveyed to us by Christ, and is offered to us by the Gospel, and received cf us by faith as with a hand. Nowell, p. 73.

Q. Dost thou think that this faith is a quality of nature, or the gift of God ? A. Faith is the gift of God, and a singular and excellent gift. For both our wits are too gross aud dull to conceive and understand the wisdom of God, whose fountains are opened by faith, and our hearts are more apt either to dis-

c Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but accord- ing to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost. Tit. iii. 5. Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. John iii. 5. For many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. Luke xiii. 24. It i9 not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. Rom. ix. 16. Who maketh thee to differ from another ? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? 1 Cor. iv. 7. If by grace then it is no more of works. Rom. xi. G. Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of

righteousness. Wherefore ? because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. Rom. ix. 31, 32.

d A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from hea- ven. John iii. 27. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed ? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher ? and how shall they preach, except they be sent? Rom. x. 14, 15. The grace of God that bringeth salva- tion hath appeared to all men. Tit. ii. 11. If our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost ; in whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them that be- lieve not, lest the light of the glo-

fore we ehave no power to do good works, plea- trust, or to wrongfuj and corrupt trust in ourselves, or in other creatures, than to true trust in God. But God instructing us with his word and lightening our minds with his Holy Spirit, maketh us apt to learn those things that otherwise would be far from entering into the dull capacity of our wits ; and sealing the promises of salvation on our souls, he so informeth us that we are most surely persuaded of the truth of them. These things the apostles understanding, do pray to the Lord to increase their faith. Nowell, p. 76.

By faith given us of God we embrace the promise of God’s mercy, and of the remission of our sins. Horn. iii. 3.

True and lively faith in the merits of Jesus Christ is not ours, but by God’s working in us. Horn. iii. 1.

e Such was the frailty of mankind after his fall, such was his weakness and imbecility ; that he could not walk uprightly in God’s commandments, though he would never so fain, but daily and hourly fell from his bounden duty, offending the Lord his God divers ways, to the great increase of his condemnation. Horn. xxv. 2.

rious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Cor. iv. 3, 4, 6. I am the way, and the truth, and the life : no man cometh unto the Father but by me. John xiv. 6. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth. James i. 17, 18. Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as God gave to every man. I have planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 1 Cor. iii. 5, 6. Then opened he their understand- ing, that they might understand the scriptures. Luke xxiv. 45. And the hand of the Lord was with them : and a great number believed and turned unto the Lord. Acts xi. 21. Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. 1 John v. 1. We are labour- ers together with God : ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. 1 Cor. iii. 9. This is the

work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. John vi. 29. Blessed art thou, Simon Bar- jona; for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Fa- ther which is in heaven. Matt. xvi. 17. It is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance. Matt. xiii. 11, 12. Unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake. Phil. i. 29. God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us to- gether with Christ. For by grace are ye saved through faith ; and that not of yourselves : it is the gift of God. Eph. ii. 4, 5, 8. It is of faith that it might be by grace. Rom. iv. 16. Through the faith of the operation of God. Col. ii. 12.

e Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots ? then may yt also do good that are ac- customed to do evil. Jer. xiii. 23. They that are in the flesh cannot please God. Rom. viii. 8. O Lord, I know that the way of man is not

sant and acceptable to God, f without the grace

Of ourselves we be crab-trees, that ean bring- forth no apples. We be of ourselves of such earth, as can but bring forth weeds. Our fruits be declared in the fifth chapter to the Galatians. We have neither faith, charity, hope, patience, chastity, nor any thing else that good is, but of God ; and therefore these virtues be called there, ” the fruits of the Holy Ghost,” and not the fruits ot man. Horn. ii. 2.

O God, the strength of all them that put their trust in thee, mercifully accept our prayers ; and because, through the weak- ness of our mortal nature, we can do no good thing without thee, grant us the help of thy grace, that in keeping of thy commandments, we may please thee both in will and deed, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Coll. for the first Sunday after Trinity.

f All good things come down unto us from above, from the Father of light. Jesus Christ, his Son aud our Saviour, is the mean by whom we receive his liberal goodness. In the power and virtue of the Holy Ghost we be made meet and able to receive his gifts and graces. Horn. xxix. 1.

In the power and virtue of the Holy Ghost, resteth all wisdom and all ability to know God and to please him. in his power shall we have sufficient ability to know our duty to Gcd; in him shall we be comforted and encouraged to walk in our duty ; in him shall we be meet vessels to receive the grace of Almighty God: for it is he that purgeth and purineth the mind by his secret working. He only is present every where by his in- visible power and containeth all things in his dominion. He lighteneth the heart to conceive worthy thoughts to Almighty God. He only ministereth spiritual strength to the powers of our soul and body. To hold the way, which God hath prepared for us to walk rightly in our journey, we must ac- knowlege that it is in the power of his Spirit, which helpeth our infirmity. If any gift we have wherewith we may work to the glory of God, and profit of our neighbour ; all is wrought by his own and self-same Spirit. If any wisdom we have it is

in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. Jer. x. 23. Without me ye can do nothing. John xv. 5. They that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh. To be carnally-minded is death. Rom. viii. 5, 6. Without faith it is impossible to please him. Heb. xi. 6.

f To us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him ; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. 1 Cor. viii. 6.

No man can come unto me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him — except it were given unto him of my Father. John vi. 44, 65. The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love : therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee. Jer. xxxi. 3. I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love. Hosea xi. 4. Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. Zech. iv. 6. From me is

of God by Christ preventing us, *that we may

not of ourselves ; we cannot glory therein, as begun of ourselves ; but we ought to glory in God, from whom it came to us. Horn. xxix. 3.

O God, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works do proceed. Second Coll. for Evening Service.

My good child, know this, thou art not able to do these things of thyself, nor to walk in the commandments of God, and to serve him, without his special grace, which thou must learn at all times to call for by diligent prayer. Catechism.

O God, our refuge and strength, who art the author of all godliness. Twenty-third Sunday after Trinity.

s Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people ; that they plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may of thee be plenteously rewarded, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Coll. for the twenty-fifth Sunday after Trinity:

For it is the Holy Ghost, and no other thing, that doth quicken the minds of men ; stirring up good and godly motions in their hearts, which are agreeable to the will and commandment of God; such as otherwise of their own crooked and perverse nature they should never have. — As for the works of the Spirit, the fruits of faith, charitable and godly motions, if he have any at all in him, they proceed only of the Holy Ghost; who is the only worker of our sanctification, and maketh us new men in Christ Jesus. — Such is the power of the Holy Ghost to regene- rate men, and as it were to bring them forth anew, so that they shall be nothing like the men that they were before. Neither doth he think it sufficient inwardly to work the spiritual and new birth of man, unless he do also dwell and abide in him. Horn, xxviii. 1.

thy fruit found. Hosea xiv. 8. The Lord thy God will circumcise Ye are dead, and your life is hid thine heart, and the heart of thy with Christ in God. Col. iii. 3. For seed, to love the Lord thy God it is God which worketh in you, with all thine heart, and with all both to will and to do of his good thy soul, that thou mayest live, pleasure. Phil. ii. 13. We are his Deut. xxx. 6. And I will give workmanship, created in Christ them one heart, and I will put a Jesus unto good works, which God new spirit within you; and I will hath before ordained that we should take the stony heart out of their walk in them. Eph. ii. 10. This flesh, and will give them a heart of people have I formed for myself, flesh. That they may walk in my Isa. xliii. 21. In Christ Jesus nei- statutes, &c. Ezra xi. 19, 20. xxxvi. ther circumcision availeth ay 25 — 29. 1 will put my law in their thing nor uncircumcision, but a inward parts, and write it in their new creature. Gal. vi. 15. And hearts; and will be their God, and that ye put on the new man, which they shall be ray people. And I after God is created in righteousness will give them one heart, and one and true holiness. Eph. iv.24. way, that they may fear me foy

f Thy people shall be willing in ever, for the good of them, and of the day of thy power. Ps. ex. 4. their children after them: and I

have a good will, and 11 working with us when we have that good will.

Do you trust that you are inwardly moved by the Holy Ghost to take upon you this office and administration, to serve God for the promoting of his glory, and the edifying of his people ? Ordination Service.

Ye cannot have a mind and will thereto of yourselves ; for that will and ability is given of God alone, therefore ye ought, and have need, to pray earnestly for his Holy Spirit. Ordina- tion Service.

h Let us throughout our whole lives confess all good things to come from God, of what name or nature soever they be, not of corruptible things only, but much more of all spiritual graces behoveable for our soul, without whose goodness no man is called to faith, or staid therein. Horn. xxix. 2.

St. Paul confesseth faith plainly to be God’s gift, saying, ” Faith is the gift of God.” Eph. ii. 8. And again St. Peter saith, ” It is of God’s power that ye be kept through faith to salvation.” 1 Pet. i. 5. It is of the goodness of God that we falter not in our hope unto him. It is verily God’s work in us, the charity wherewith we love our brethren. If after our fall we repent, it is by him that we repent, which reacheth forth his merciful hand to raise us up. If we have any will to rise, it is he that preventeth our will, and disposeth us thereto. If after contrition we feel our consciences at peace with God through

will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them to do them good ; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me. Jer. xxxi. 33. xxxii. 39, 4f>. The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. Rom. viii. -2. Wtio gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works. Tit. ii. 14. The last Adam was made a quickening Spirit. 2 Cor. xv. 45. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and re- new a right spirit within me. Ps. Ii. 10. It is the Spirit that quick- eneth. John vi. 63. The Spirit giveth life. 2 Cor. iii. 6. The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 1 Cor. xii. 7.

k I am come that they might have life, and that they might have

it more abundantly. John x. 10. As sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life, through Jesus Christ. Rom. v. 21. By whom we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand. Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. Rom. v. 2, 20. Lord, thou wilt ordain peace for us : for thou also hast wrought all our works in us. Isa. xxvi. 12. He that docth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. John iii. 21. Not that we are sufficient to think any thing as of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God. 2 Cor. iii. 5. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee : for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Cor. xii. 0. Looking unto Jesus, the

remission of our sin, and so be reconciled again to his favour, and hope to be his children and inheritors of everlasting life ; who worketh these great miracles in us ? Our worthiness, our de- servings and endeavours, our wits, and virtue ? Nay verily, St. Paul will not suffer flesh and clay to presume to such ar- rogancy, and therefore saith, ” All is of God, &c.” 2 Cor. v. 18. Horn. xxix. 3.

And to uphold the truth of this matter against all justiciaries and hypocrites, which rob Almighty God of his honour and ascribe it to themselves, St. Paul bringeth in his belief ; ” We be not,” saith he, “sufficient of ourselves,” as of ourselves, “once to think any thing, but all our ableness is of God’s goodness.” Horn. xxix. 1.

The frailty of man without thee cannot but fall. Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity.

And so replenish him with the grace of thy Holy Spirit, that he may alway incline to thy will, and walk in thy way. Prayer for the King.

Grant that we being regenerate, and made thy children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by thy Holy Spirit. Coll. for Christmas Day.

We humbly beseech thee, that as by thy special grace pre- venting us thou dost put into our minds good desires ; so by thy continual help we may bring the same to good effect. Coll. for Easter Day.

Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church is governed and sanctified. Coll. for Good Friday.

Lord, we pray thee, that thy grace may always prevent and follow us, and make us coutinually to be given to all good works. Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity.

Prevent us, O Lord, in all our doings, with thy most gracious favour, and further us with thy continual help ; that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in thee, we may glorify thy holy name, and finally by thy mercy obtain everlasting life ; though Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Occasional Coll,

author and finisher of our faith. Heb. xii. 2. By the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain ; but I laboured more abundantly than they all : yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 1 Cor. xv. 10. I can do all things through Christ which strengthen- eth me. Phil. iv. 13. The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and he delighteth in his way. Ps. xxxvii. 23. Man’s goings are of the Lord ; how can a man then understand his own way. Prov. xx.

24. O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself : it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. Jer. x. 23. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch can- not bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine ; no more can ye except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches : he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit : for without me ye can do nothing. John xv. 4, 5. Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who hath given you a good will to do all these things, grant also unto you strength and power to perform the same ; that he accomplishing in you the good work which he hath begun, you may be found perfect and ir reprehensible at the latter day. Ordination Service.

We must needs agree, that whatsoever good thing is in us, of grace, of nature, or of fortune, is of God only, as the only author and worker. Horn. xxix. 1.

pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ. Heb. xiii. 21. Being con- fident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day

of Jesus Christ. Phil. i. 6. For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. Rom. xi. 36.