2. Let us put things together, and take notice, that general grace and special are very reconcilable: For God may be so far willing of the salvation of all, as to be ready to shew mercy to them if they repent and believe; from which they are hindered by nothing but their own wilfulness: And yet he may be so much farther intent on the salvation of some, as to use effectual means to bring them to repent and believe, to will and run, that so they may be secured within the compass of his special mercy. The Scripture appears clear as to both; and where’s the inconsistency? why must we deny general grace to exalt that which is special? or deny and depress special grace, to advance that which is general? Is not the honor of God’s special grace and mercy sufficiently secured by our acknowledging that it is that that brings any of the fallen race of Adam to will and run, and so makes the difference between them and the rest of the world, who live and die in their unbelief and impenitency? and is not this very consistent with our owning that God so loved the world in general; as that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him might not perish, but might have everlasting Life? And on the other side, is not general grace sufficiently secured by our maintaining god’s love to the world, and his willing the salvation of all men, on condition they turn to him? And is not this consistent with our owning that a special divine excitation alone can bring any that are in a state of corruption, to will and run in the ways of God? And that he takes away the heart of stone, and gives an heart of flesh to all that become his real people? And why then should we go about to dash these truths against each other which are fairly consistent, and agree well together? Let us beware of extremes: and stand upon our guard, least for fear of one error, we fall into another.
Edmund Calamy, Divine Mercy Exalted: Or, Free Grace in its Glory (London: Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and 3 Crowns in Cheapside; J. Robinson at the Golden Lion in St. Pauls Church-yard, and J. Lawrence at the Angel in the Poultry, 1703), 44–45. [Some spelling modernized; italics original; and underlining mine.] [The reader should keep in mind that this is not the Edmund Calamy of the Westminster Assembly, known as Edmund Calamy the Elder.]
Credit to Tony for the find.