Wesley Corpus

3.) Friend.--But what then becomes of the wills of men? Pred.--“The wills of men are so governed by the will of God, that they are carried on straight to the mark which he has fore-ordained.” (Ibid., sect. 8.) Friend.--I suppose you mean the permissive will of God? Pred.--No : I mean, “all things come to pass by the efficacious and irresistible will of God.” (Twissi Vindicia Gratiae Potestatis & Providentia Dei. Editio Jensoniana, par. 3, p. 19.) Friend.--Why, then, all men must do just what they do? Pred.-True: “It is impossible that anything should ever : : c : . be done, but that to which God impels the will of man.” (Ibid., p. 19.) Friend.--But does not this imply the necessity of all events? Pred.--“I will not scruple to own that the will of God lays a necessity on all things, and that every thing he wills neces sarily comes to pass.” (Calvin’s Inst., b. 3, c. 24, sec. 8.) Friend.--Does sin then necessarily come to pass? Pred.--Undoubtedly : For “the almighty power of God extends itself to the first fall, and all other sins of angels and men.” (Assembly’s Catechism, c. 5.) Friend.--I grant, God foresaw the first man would fall. Pred.--Nay, “God not only foresaw that Adam would fall, but also ordained that he should.” (Calvin’s Inst., b. 3, c. 23, sec. 7.) Friend.--I know God permitted Adam’s fall. Pred.--I tell you, “he fell not only by the permission, but also by the appointment, of God.” (Calvini Responsio ad Calumnias Nebulonis cujusdam ad Articulum primum.) “He sinned because God so ordained, because the Lord saw good.” (Calvin's Inst., b. 3, c. 24, sec. 8.) Friend.--But do not those who differ from you raise many objections against you as to this point? Pred.--Yes: “Those poisonous dogs vomit out many things against God.” (Ibid., b. 3, c. 23, sec. 2.) “They deny that the Scripture says God decreed Adam’s fall. They say he might have chose either to fall or not; and that God fore ordained only to treat him according to his desert: As if God had created the noblest of all his creatures, without fore ordaining what should become of him !” (Ibid., sec. 7.) Friend.--Did God then make Adam on purpose that he might fall? Pred.--Undoubtedly. “God made Adam and Eve to this very purpose, that they might be tempted and led into sin.