Page:A Treatise of the Covenant of Grace (John Ball).djvu/249

 Rh The last refuge is, That any man might have had the Word, using that little well that God gave. How should he have had it? By ordinary meanes, or extraordinary revelation. Some are bold to affirme, he should have had it after an extraordinary manner. Others speake of I know not what possibility by traffique, and the like: both sorts utter strange things, and it is reason we should require better proofes then bare affirmations. To him that hath shall be given, is a proverbiall speech, whereby our Saviour signifieth, that they who be enlightened by the Gospell, and use well the supernaturall gifts they have received, shall be enriched with an happy encrease. And that the contemners of the Gospell and grace bestowed upon them, shall have that taken from them which they seemed to have. But that men unregenerate can of themselves use their naturall gifts in an acceptable manner, or that God will bestow supernaturall, upon them that use their naturall gifts minus malè, as Arminius speakes, is neither found in the Text, nor confirmed from any circumstance of it. Twice we find the passage used, Matth. 13. 12. and 25. 29. In the first it is manifest, our Saviour speakes of them that enjoyed the Gospell: In the second, of those that used their Talent, whereby gifts not naturall, but supernaturall are meant: because the Lord doth freely bestow eternall life immediately upon them that use their Talent well, which they will not say, he doth upon them who use their naturall gifts minus malè. In both places our Saviour shewes, how God dealeth with his, giving them a taste of his goodnesse, wherby they thirst after the augmentation of his grace the more earnestly, when he doth not affect the hearts of all men in that manner. And if naturall gifts (which they call common grace) be understood, then for the abuse of this light or grace, God doth not only with-hold from men the supernaturall meanes of grace, but takes from them their naturall gifts which they had: For so the Text runneth, And from him that hath not, even that which he had, or seemed to have, shall be taken away. And then I would demand, whether Christ died for them that so abused their naturall gifts as such, or no? If he did, then he died for many, to whom he vouchsafeth not meanes sufficient to bring them to salvation, or faith in him. If he died not for them, then he died not for the farre greatest part of the world, in all ages, in respect of the present state wherein they stand as men. And here is to be