RIGHT LEG. LEFT LEG. from the beginning to the which have been and shall end of time." be wrought, from the beginning to the end of time. to be saved."-(p. 15.) "The condemnation of the reprobate is necessary and irresistible.”—(p. 25.) “ God worketh all things in all men, even wickedness in the wicked." On these propositions, the most unguarded words of which I have produced in Italics, I rest the left leg of Calvinism, and taking my leave of the translation of Zanchius, I return to the Vindication of the Decrees; and continue to make Mr. Toplady's doctrine of grace stand" on its legs," that is, on Absolute Reprobation to death, as well as on Absolute Election to life. RIGHT LEG. ARG. VII. No. 1.- (Page 19.)"Reason also joins with Scripture, in asserting the indispensable ne cessity of SANCTIFICATION upon the footing of the most absolute and irrespective Election: Or, in other words, that the certainty of the end does not supersede, but ensure the intervention of the means. ARG.VIII. No. 1.- (Page 21, 22.) "It was necessary that, as sinners, they [the elect] should not only be redeemed from punishment, and entitled to heaven; but endued moreover with an internal meetness for that inheritance. This internal meetness for Heaven can only be wrought by the restoring agency of God the Holy Ghost, who graciously engaged and LEFT LEG. ANSWER. No. 2.-Reason also joins with Scripture, in asserting the indispensable necessityof WICKEDNESS, upon the footing of the most absolute and irrespective Reprobation: Or, in other words, that the certainty of the end does not supersede, but ensure the intervention of the means. ANSWER. NO. 2.-It was necessary, that, as holy, they [the reprobate] should not only be appointed to punishment, and entitled to hell; but endued moreover with an internal meetness for that inheritance. This internal meetness for Hell, can only be wrought by the perverting agency of [the Manichean] god the unholy ghost, who officiously engaged and took RIGHT LEG. took upon himself, in the covenant of peace, to renew and sanctify all the elect people of God; saying, I will put my law in their 'minds.—Elect, &c., 'through sanctification of 'the Spirit unto obedience.' -Election, though productive of good works, is not founded upon them: On the contrary, they are one of the glorious ends, to which they are chosen. Saints do not bear the root, but the root them. Elect unto obedience. They who have been elected,&c., shall experience the Holy Spirit's sanctification,in beginning, advancing, and perfecting, the work of grace in their souls.-The elect, &c., are made to obey the commandments of God, and to imitate Christ, &c. I said made to obey. Here perhaps the unblushing Mr. Wesley may ask, "Are the elect then mere machines?' I answer, No. They are made willing in the day of God's power.* LEFT LEG. upon himself, in the covenant of wrath, to pervert and defile all the reprobate people of God; saying, ''I ' will put my law in their 'minds.-Reprobate, &c. through pollution of the 'spirit untodisobedience.'Reprobation, though productive of bad works, is not founded upon them : On the contrary, they are one of the inglorious ends, to which they are reprobated. Sinners do not bear the root, but the root them. Reprobate unto disobedience.-They who have been reprobated, &c., shall experience the wicked spirit's pollution, in beginning, advancing and perfecting the work of sin in their sonls. The reprobates, &c., are made to disobey the commandments of God, and to imitate Satan, &c. I said, made to disobey. Here perhaps the blushing Mr. Wesley may ask, 66 Are the reprobates then mere machines?" I answer, No. They are made willing in the day of God's power. Here Mr. Toplady adds, And, I believe, nobody ever yet heard of a willing machine. But he is mistaken: For all moral philosophers call machine, whatever is fitted for free motions, and yet has no power to begin and determine its own motions. Now willing being the motion of a spirit, if a spirit cannot will but as it is RIGHT LEG. ARG. IX. No. 1. (Page 23, 24.) "God decreed to bring his elect to glory, in a way of sanctification, and in no other way but that. If so, cries Mr. Wesley, "They shall be saved, whe'ther they are sanctified or 'no.' What, notwithstanding their sanctification is, itself, an essential branch of the decree concerning them? The man may as well affirm, that Abraham might have been the progenitor of nations, though he had died in infancy, &c. Equally illogical is Mr. Wesley's impudent slander, that the Elect shall be saved, do what they will,' that is, whether they be holy or not.'' ARG. X. No. 1.-(Page 20.] "Paul's travelling, and Paul's utterance, were as certainly, and as necessarily included in the decree of the means as his preach ing was determined by the decree of the end." ARG. XI. No. 1.-(Page 28, 29.) "Love, when LEFT LEG. ANSW. No. 2.-God decreed to bring his reprobate to hell in a way of sinning, and in no other way but that. If so, cries Mr. Wesley, "They shall be damned, whether they sin or no." What, notwithstanding their sinning is, itself, an essential branch of the decree concerning them?"The man may as well affirm, that Paul might have preached the gospel viva voce, in fifty differen regions, without travelling a step!" (p. 23.) Equally illogical is Mr. Wesley' impudent slander, tha "the Reprobate shall be damned, do what they will," that is, whether the be wicked or not. ANSW. No. 2.--The ricl glutton's gluttony, and hi unmercifulness, were a certainly and as necessaril included in the decree the means as his bein tormented in hell was de termined by the decree the end. ANSW. No. 2.-Hat wh en Calvinistically pred necessarily made to will, it is as void of a self-determining princip as a fire-engine, and of consequence it is, (morally speaking,) as a me machine. RIGHT LEG. [Calvinistically] predica ted of God, signiñes his eternal benevolence; that is his everlasting will, pur pose, and determination, to deliver, bless, and save his [elect] people. In order to the eventual accomplishment of that salvation in the next world, grace is given them in this, to preserve them (and preserve them it does) from doing the evil they otherwise would. This is all the election which Calvinism, &c., contends for; even a predestination to holiness and heaven." ARG. XII: No. 1.(Page 33.) "Now, if it be the Father's will that Christ should lose none of his Elect; if Christ himself, in consequence of their covenant-donation to him, does actually give unto them eternal life, and solemnly avers, that they, shall never perish; if God be so for them, that none can hinder their salvation, &c., if they cannot be condemned, and nought shall separate them from the love of Christ; it clearly and inevitably follows, that, Not one of the Elect VOL. IV. F LEFT LEG. cated of God, signifies his eternal ill-will; that is, his everlasting will, purpose, and determination, to enthral, curse, and damn his [reprobated] people.-In order to the eventual accomplishment of that damnation in the next world, wickedness is given them in this, to preserve them (and preserve them it does) from doing the good they otherwise would. This is all the reprobation which Calvinism contends for; even a predestination to wickedness and hell. ANSW. No. 2.-Now, if it be the Father's will, that Satan should lose none of his Reprobate; if Satan himself, in consequence of their covenant-donation to him, does actually give unto them eternal death, and solemnly avers, that they shall never escape; if God be so against them that none can hinder their damnation, &c., if they cannot be justified, and nought shall separate them from the hate of Christ; it clearly and inevitably follows, that, Not one of the Reprobate can escor |