may lose their taste and relish as to sensible refreshment but not their real presence as influencing to Salvation Tilenus Tentatus Some comfortable apprehensions might be awakened and kindled in those bosomes that have been warmed with such sweet and heavenly experiences if they were not all overcast and darkned again by other black and dismal clouds which the observation of some of your greatest Divines have spread over them For Mr. Calvin himself Instit 1. 3. c. 2. § 10 11. saith The heart of man hath so many starting holes and secret corners of vanitie and lying and is cloathed with so many colours of guileful bypocrisie that it oftentimes deceiveth it self and besides experience sheweth that the Reprobates are sometimes moved with the same feelings that the Elect are so that in their own judgement they nothing differ from the Elect. See Heb. 6. 4 5. But the truth is though I have lived a good moral life hitherto and in a way of duty have had a comfortable dependence upon the mercy of God in Christ Jesus yet I am now affraid I have had none of those extraordinary snavities and refreshments of Gods spirit and consequently have no assurance of the presence of that comforter who is promised shall abide with us for ever Mr. Knowlittle You are to consider that all the Elect are not called at the same hour Tilenus Tentatus I should not stand upon the hour I could be content that God may take his own time to call me if you could in order to my present comfort insure me that I shall be called though it be but at the hour of death but this is that I am afraid you have no grounds for Mr. Take o'trust You may be confident that Christ is dead for you and that you have an interest in him so you can believe it Tilenus Tentatus I would desire to ask but these two questions 1. Whether this comfort be applicable to all and every sick and afflicted persons and 2. whether it be grounded upon the truth For if it be not to be applied unto all I may be amongst the excepted persons and so am not concerned in it or if it be not grounded upon the truth you offer me a delusion instead of comfort Mr. Take o'trust It is applicable unto all and every one and grounded upon the unquestionable truth of the Holy Gospel Tilenus Tentatus If it be applicable to all and every one as you affirm and grounded upon the truth that is as I conceive a rruth anâ—ecedent to their believing then it follows undeniably that Christ died for all in general and for every one in speciall else how can the comfort of this doctrin be so applied to them as you would have it But if your meaning be that it will become true to me or any other person that Christ died for us by that Act of faith which you would have me or any such other person give unto your speeches then you run into a manifest absurditie maintaining that the object of faith or the thing proposed to be believed doth receive its truth from the act of the believer and depend upon his consent whose faith and approbation can no more make true that which in it self is false then make false by his unbelief that which in it self is true Well may the Infidel deprive himself of the fruit of Christ's death but he cannot bring to pass by his unbelief that he hath not suffered it as a proofe of his love to mankinde On the other side the believer may receive benefit from the death of Christ but his act of faith doth not effect but necessarily suppose that death as suffered for him before it can be exercised about it or lay hold upon it Nay my believing is so far from procuring Christs death for me that on the contrary our great Divines do maintain quod nemo unquam fidem habeat nisi morte meritis Christi procuratam that I cannot have faith unless it be procured for me by the merits and death of Christ And because I cannot finde this faith in me I may conclude he hath not procured it for me and consequently that he hath not died for me neither and this you know is the ground of all my trouble Dr. Dubius Sir I wish you to take heed of that evil heart of unbelief as the Apostle calls it Heb. 3. and to that end remember the words of our Saviour John 3. ult He that believeth on the son hath everlasting life he that believeth not the Son shall not see life but the wrath of God abideth on him Tilenus Tentatus Sir instead of lending me a clew to guide me out of that Maze of difficulties into which the prodigious Divinity of the Synod hath led me you intangle me much more in it For whereas the Apostle saith that God sends strong delusions to such as will not receive the love of the truth that they may be saved 2 Thes 2. You governing your discourse by those principles would first perswade men to believe a false proposition when you exhort every man to believe that Christ died for him which is false according to that Doctrin and then having believed this falshood they are punished by the spirit of errour to believe a lie I beseech you which way would you have me turn my self to get out of these perplexities Having instructed me to believe a doctrin that turns my obedience into punishment and makes my following the truth according to that Calculation the sure way to aggravate my damnation For if the Synod saith true and Christ be not dead for them that believe not in him how do they deserve to be punished for not believing that which is false And those that do obey the Commandement and believe in his death though but for a time why suffer they the punishment due only to the refractory and incredulous which is to believe a lie Mr. Knowlittle Sir you must not think to beguile us with your vain Philosophie we are too well established in these saving truths to be perverted by such Sophistrie Tilenus If you have no better Cordials for afflicted Consciences nor firmer props to support the necessitie of your ministerie than what the doctrins of the Synod will afford you I am afraid the most vulgar capacities will finde Logick enough to conclude from the premises that your office is altogether useless and impertinent Laying aside therefore the person of the Infidel Carnal Tepid and Afflicted whose parts I have hitherto acted to make a practical trial of the efficacie of your ministery upon them according to the tenour and consequences of those doctrins I beseech you sadly to reflect upon what hath already pass'd betwixt and consider further what a vertiginous spirit presided in that Synod that led those Divines Maugre all the reason to the contrary to denie some things which the Scripture expresly doth affirm and to affirm other things which the Scripture doth as
God Rom. 5. 1. Tilenus Tentatus Sir I know these are excellent Cordialls to the soul that is perswaded she hath a reall interest in them but they are designed onely for a very small number as the doctrine of the Synod hath determined For those Divines tell us that Almighty God did by an absolute decree elect certain particular persons to salvation neither considering the death of his Son nor the faith of those elect in that decree but then decreed to give his Son to die for them and irresistibly to work in them a saving faith to lay hold upon that his Son and actually to apply all the said benefits to themselves for whose salvation only they were all prepared and designed Now all the promises of salvation in Christ how universally soever propounded being by your Doctrine restrained onely to these Elect amongst whom that I should reckon my self neither any particular mention of me in Scripture nor any revelation by Angel or Prophet out of it doth assure me and the number of them according to your computation being so small in proportion to the Reprobates there is so much odds against me that I have reason to be afraid that I am inlisted under the greater multitude When Christ said to his Apostles One of you shall betray me though the odds were eleven to one on the Innocent parties side yet it raised so much scruple and suspition in all their bosomes as made them very anxious and inquisitive Matth. 26. 22. Master is it I Were the number of the Reprobates for whom you say Christ died not far more disproportionable to the elect yet the sad apprehension of those eternal torments fatally link'd to the end of that horrible decree would prompt me to entertain fears jealousies more than enough lest I should be filed upon that chain having no assurance to the Contrary How much more should fearfullness and trembing surprize me when I consider how few the Elect are even amongst the vast multitudes of such as are called Mr. Simulans Seeing it hath pleased the wisdom of Almighty God to keep his immutable Decrees as well that of Reprobation as that of Election locked up in the secret Cabinet of his own unsearchable Counsell we are to govern our judgment by the rule of Charity which beleeveth all things and hopeth all things 1 Cor. 13 Tilenus Tentatus I confesse the judgement of Charitie is a try'd and equall beame in many Cases but if you extend it generally and apply it unto all particulars it must needs be very false and I am confident you dare not avouch the trueth of it in such a latitude or if you dare you are no more able to maintaine it than I can beleeve these two contrary propositions at once that Jesus Christ died for all and yet that he died for a very small number 2. It is not the judgement of my Charity but the certaintie of my faith that must give me assurance and comfort in this particular 3. Charitable judgement is a fair standard to measure the doubtfull actions of our neighbour by and commands us to cover his infirmities and stifle the too light conception of suspitions and sinister opinions touching him but bindes us not to preach falshood to him to induce him against his own reason to foster too good an opinion of himself When I see a man present himself to the Holy Sacrament the judgement of Charity perswades mee knowing nothing to the contrary that he addresses himself to it with that preparation of heart that becomes a good Christian But that such as are rightly prepared and qualified do partake thereof to their salvation this I beleeve by the judgement of faith which admâ—tteth nothing that is or can be false So when I see a sick man render his soul up with much devotion and resignation into the hands of Christ I beleeve charitably that he dies as becomes a faithfull Christian But that God communicateth his salvation to such as die in the profession and obedience of the right faith this I beleeve by the certainty of faith wherein it is impossible I should be deceived though the judgment of Charity deceives us very often In a word the judgment of charity is a good standing measure betwixt man and man but it is not current betwixt man and his own Conscience much lesse betwixt him and God I know I am not to be relieved but by such succours as are levied upon the divine promises and those promises having their foundation and infallibilitie in the undeceivable truth of God they require such a certaintie of faith as will admit no mixture of any thing false or doubtfull Besides when I do inquire which act of faith hath the prioritie viz. to beleeve in Christ or to beleeve Christ to be my Saviour in particular I am taught by some of your Divines Maccovius by name that I must in the first place beleeve that Christ is my Saviour and that is the cause of the other act or the reason why I place my faith in him Now if Christ died only for a few particular persons and all the promises made in him belong to those few onely unlesse I could find some mention of my name amongst them or receive some revelation from heaven to that effect how can I with any certainty or assurance build my faith upon it that I am one of them Mr. Tako'trust We are bound to think every one is of the number of the Elect till it appears to the contary Tilen Tentatus This is but singing the old note ever again This is still your judgement of Charity which though it suppresseth all suspicion in you towards me yet can it not cure those feares and jealousies which I have but with too great reason conceived of my self As for your appearances to the contrary I cannot understand them much lesse set any value upon them for by such outward things the Synod is ready to tell us we can never perceive any thing of what belongs to the state of Election or Reprobation I am beholding to you that waving the severity of your reason you will make use of a charitable supposition to flatter me into an opinion that I am one of that little Flock for which Christ dyed But there is nothing can secure and comfort me but a full and certain perswasion that I am one of them which you will never be able to work in me denying that Christ died for all unlesse you can find some particular and undeniable evidence of my interest in him Mr. Indefectible You should reflect upon your former experience of God's gratious work in you That spirit of adoption sent out into the hearts of Gods Elect to bear witness to their spirits though he may become silent and not speak peace to them in such an audible language of comfort as is alwayes apprehended by them yet he abides with them for ever Spiritual injoyments are different from these outward and carnal ones we
the foreknowledge of God the Father through sanctification of the spirit unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ Rom. 8. 29. Whom he did foreknow he also did predestinate Rom. 9. 23. with 2 Tim. 2. 21. If a man therefore purge himself from these he shall be a vessel of mercy unto honour c. See Psal 4. 3 103. 17 18. Rom. 10. 10 11. and all those texts cited above under these heads Who should believe and persevere See Rom. 11. 4 5. not bowed And the consideration of this or that man who should die in unbelief c. Exod. 32. 33. Whosoever hath sinned against me him will I blot out of my book Numb 14. 21 to 35. As truly as I live saith the Lord †The very form of actual Reprobation because all those men which have seen my glory and my miracles and have tempted me now these ten times and have not hearkned to my voice surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers neither shall any of them that provoked me see it And ye shall know my breach of promise Heb. 3. 18 19. And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest but to them that believed not So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief Now these things happened unto them for types see the application Heb. 4. 11. or ensamples unto us 1 Cor. 10. 6 11. Rom. 11. 20 21 22 23. Because of unbelief they were broken off and thou standest by faith Be not high minded but fear for if God spared not the natural branches take heed lest he alse spare not thee Behold therefore the goodnesse and severity of God on them which fell severity but towards thee goodnesse if thou continue in his goodnesse otherwise thou also shalt be cut off 1 Chron. 28. 9. If thou seek him he will be found of thee but if thou forsake him he will cast thee off for ever 2 Tim. 2. 12. If we deny him he will deny us Ioh. 12. 46 47 48. He that rejecteth me hath one that judgeth him Iude v. 6 7. 2 Pet. 2. 4. 2 Thess 2. 12. The Angels which kept not their first estate and Sodom giving themselves over to fornication are set forth for an ensample Vngodly men turning the grace ef our God into lasciviousnesse Were before of old ordained to this condemnation to whom is reserved the blacknesse of darknesse for ever verse 4 13. See 1 Pet. 2. 7 8. 2 Pet. 2. 7. c. See also the texts cited above under this head Such as would not believe c. V. Christ is not only the executor of election but the foundation of the decree it self Proofs out of Scripture The executor c. Iohn 3. 16. So God loved the world that he gave his only begotten son Acts 4. 12. Neither is there salvation in any other Iohn 17. 3. This is life eternal to know thee and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent Iohn 14. 6. I am the way the truth and the life Iohn 15. 4. Abide in me and I in you as the branch cannot bear fruit of it self except it abide in the Vine no more can ye except ye abide in mee Col. 1. 27. Christ in you the hope of glory See 1 Cor. 2. 2. But the foundation c. Ephes 3. 11 12. According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord 2 Tim. 1. 9 10. According to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Iesus before the world began Iohn 1. 16 17. Grace and truth came by Iesus Christ and of his fulness See Col. 1. 19 20. 2 Cor. 5. 19. God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself Rom. 5. 2. By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand See Ephes 3. 11. 12. and Ephes 1. 3 4 5 6 7 11. Blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ chosen in him predestinated us by him made us accepted in him In whom we have redemption forgiveness and an inheritance Ephes 2. 20 21 22. Jesus Christ being the Corner stone 1 Cor. 3. 11. Other foundation can no man lay See the Text cited above under this head made a sacrifice and suffered death What the Remonstrants do utterly denie Concerning Predestination I. They do utterly denie that God decreed to elect some to eternal life and to reprobate others from the same before he decreed to create them The Reason of this Not to elect some c. For he hath chosen us in Christ Ephes 1. 4. But in Christ we cannot be unless we be considered 1. As sinners 2. As believers and therefore Creatures 1. As sinners For 1 Tim. 1. 15. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners See Mat. 1. 21. Iohn 1. 29. Mat. 18. 11. Luke 19. 10. John 6. 51. Heb. 2. 14. c. 2 Cor. 5. 19. c. See all the places cited for salvation by faith 2. As believers For John 1. 12. They that receive him are they that believe in his name See Ephes 3. 17. Not to reprobate others c. For reprobation is an act of Gods hatred who hateth nothing but sin and for sin which the creature could not be guilty of before it had a being Exod. 32. 33. See Ezek. 18. 23. Chap. 33. 11. Whosoever hath sinned him will I blot out Ezek. 18. 4 20. The soul that sinneth it shall die See all those places where damnation is said to be for sin especially for infidelitie See also those places cited to shew Gods hatred of sin and his inclination to mercy as Exod. 33. 18 19. Chap. 34. 6 7. Lam. 3. 33. Psal 145. 8 9. Ezek. 33. 11. 2 Pet. 3. 9. Ezek. 18. 23 32. Mat. 25. 41. Hell made for Devils II. They do not hold that any such decree in order before the decree of Creation was made for the demonstration of the glory of Gods mercy and justice or power and absolute dominion The Reason of this 1. Ier. 18. 4. The vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter so he made it again another vessel as seemed good to the potter to make it See to the 10 1◠vers See Isa 27. 11. last part Hos 9. 15. 2. Isa 49. 8 6. verses I will give thee for a Covenant of the people to restore Israel and inlighten the Gentiles And verse 〈◊〉 Thou art my servant O Israel Christ in whom I will be glorified See Iohn 15. v. 8 Proverbs 14. 28. Consider what is noted before and what followeth for further evidence of this III. They do utterly denie that God did with this intent create all men in Adam ordain the fall and permission thereof withdraw from Adam grace necessary and sufficient or procureth the Gospel to be preached and men to be externally called and bestoweth certain gifts of the Holy Ghost upon them and all this with this intent that these should be means
19 20 21. It pleased the father by him to reconcile all things to himself Tit. 3. 4. After that the kindness and pity of God our Saviour towards man appeared Iohn 12. 47. For I came not to judge the world but to save the world Iohn 15. 13. Greater love hath no man then this that a man lay down his life for his friend Rev. 1. 5. He loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood 2 Cor. 5. 14 15. The love of Christ Constraineth us c. II. They hold that Christ by the merit of his death hath so far forth reconciled God the Father to all mankinde that the Father by reason of his Sons merit both could and would and did enter and establish a new and gracious Covenant with sinful man liable to Condemnation Proofes out of Holy Scripture 2 Cor. 5. 19. God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself not imputing their trespasses unto them Col. 1. 21 22. And you that were sometimes alienated and enemies in your minde by wicked works yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death Isa 49. 8. I will give thee for a Covenant of the people i. e. A mediator and foundation of the Covenant of grace Deodat Annot Isa 53. per tot verse 10 11 12. When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin He shall see his seed and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hands by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justifie many Act. 10. 43. To him give all the Prophets witness that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins See Ier. 31. 31 33 34. ch 33. 8. Mich. 7. 18 19 20. with Hebr. 8. 6. c. He is the Mediator of a better Covenant which was established upon better promises viz. I will put my lawes into their minde and I will be mercifull to their unrighteousness c. Hebr. 9. 14 15. c. How much more shall the blood of Christ and for this cause he is the Mediator of the New Testament that by means of death for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first Testament they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance See chap. 10. per totum chap. 7. 22. chap. 12. 24 25. III. They hold that though Christ hath merited reconciliation with God and pardon of sins for all and every man yet according to the tenour of the new and gracious Covenant none is indeed made partaker of the benefits purchased by the death of Christ otherwise then by faith nor are a mans sins pardoned before he actually believes in Christ Proofes out of holy Scripture None made partakers otherwise then by faith Romans 3. 24 25. Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his bloud Heb. 11. 6. But without faith it is impossible to please God Romans 9. 33. Whosoever believeth on him shall not be confounded 1 Timothy 4. 10. He is the Saviour specially of those that believe Col. 1. 19. to the 23. For it pleased the Father by him to reconcile all things unto himself And you hath he now reconciled to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight If ye continue in the faith c. Heb. 3. 6 14. We are made partakers of Christ if we hold fast c. Heb. 9. 15. He is the Mediator that by means of death they which are called Cum Eventu might receive the promise of eternal inheritance Iohn 1. 12. But as many as received him to them gave he power to become the sons of God even to them that believe on his name See Gal. 3. 22. Nor are a mans sins pardoned before he believes Acts 10. 43. To him give all the Prophets witness that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins See Acts 26. 18. Chapter 13. 39. See John 3. 36. Rom. 3. 21 22. The righteousness of God without the law is manifested even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe Romans 4 3 24. Abraham believed God and it was imputed to him for righteousness and it shall be imputed to us also if we believe See the whole Chapter Gal. 2 26. We have believed in Jesus Christ that we might be justified by the faith of Christ Gal. 3. 11. See Gal. 3. 22. The just shall live by faith Romans 5. 1. Being justified by faith we have peace with God See Acts 2. 38. Isa 53. 11. IV. They hold that only they for whom Christ died are bound to believe that Christ died for them and if there were any for whom Christ died not they should not be bound to believe he died for them or condemned for not believing yea if there were any such Reprobates they should rather be bound to believe that he died not for them Proofs out of Scripture Only they bound to believe c. 1 Pet. 1. 18 19. with 21. ye were redeemed with the precious blood of Christ who was manifest for you who by him do believe in God that raised him up from the dead and gave him glory that your faith and hope might be in God Iohn 14. 1 2 3. Believe also in me Why I goe to prepare a place for you and I will receive you to my selfe See 1 Cor. 15. 2 3. with the 14 verse Whence it followes that they for whose sins Christ died not and for whose justification he rose not again to them preaching is vain and their faith is vain for they do but believe an untruth and lean upon the staffe of a broken reed Accordingly as was alleaged above Maccovius saith A man must first believe Christ to be his Saviour which he cannot be unless he hath died for him and that must be the reason why he placeth his faith in him Rather believe that he died not for them For Deut. 29. 29. Those things which are revealed belong to us And Luke 24. 25. O fooles and slow of heart to believe all that the Prophets have spoken If it be a revealed truth that Christ died not for the Reprobates then are they bound to believe he died not for them But if it be not a truth revealed why is it then preached and urged as an Article of faith What they doe not hold touching Christs death I. They do utterly deny that the price of Redemption which Christ tendered unto God his Father was not according to the decree will and grace of God the Father paid for all and every man that so the greatest part of mankinde should by an absolute and antecedent decree of God be precisely shut out from the participation of the benefits of Christs death The Reason 1. Mat. 18. 11. Luke 19. 10. Christ came to seek and to save that which was lost 2 Cor. 5. 19. God was
deny that God hath destined Reprobates as they are called to infidelity impiety and sins as means and causes of their damnation The Reason 1. God himself hath stigmatized Jeroboam with this Character as a brand of infamy 2 King 23. 15. Jeroboam the son of Nebat who made Israel to sin And Hab. 2. 15. Wo unto him that giveth his neighbour drink that puttest thy bottle to him and makest him drunken also that thou mayest look on their nakedness 2. If a Prince should make a decree to take away the life of his subject and then necessitate him by force or winde him in by subtlety to be instrumental and subservient to his own ends in the perpetration of an act which the said Prince himself hath made to be criminal that the execution of his said subject might appear to be just this argues cleerly that his first decree against him even by the verdict of his own conscience was unjust and so is his execution also 3. It is accounted an act of horrid tyranny in Tiberius who because it was unlawful to strangle Virgins He caused the hangman first to defloure a virgin and afterward to strangle her See also the Reason of the next XI They do utterly deny that God is the Author of sin The Reason 1. Because He is Holy and a pattern of holiness Lev. 11. 44. ch 19. 2. 1 Pet. 1. 15 16. 2. His wayes are right and equal and he can do no iniquity Ezek. 18. 25 29. Hos 14. 19. Psal 45. 7. 92. 16. Zeph. 3. 5. Deut. 32. 4. 3. He hates sin Psal 5. 4 5. 45. 7. Prov. 11. 20. Isa 59. 2. Deut. 12. 31. Isa 61. 8. Zee 8. 17. Am. 6. 8. Ier. 44. 4. Hab. 1. 13. 4. 'T is a burden to him Isa 7. 13. ch 43. 24. 5. He forbids sin Exod. 20. 1. c. Iob 36. 21. Ezek. 45. 9. Rom. 6. 12. 1 Cor. 15. 34. 6. He cannot be tempted with evil Jam. 1. 13 14 15. 7. He is provoked to anger by it Isa 3. 8. Hos 12. 14. Exod. 23. 21. Mark 3. 5. 8. 'T is enmity to him Rom. 8. 7. 9. 'T is the work of the Devil Ioh. 8. 44. Gen. 3. 1. 10. He sent his Son to destroy it 1 Iohn 3. 8. Tit. 2. 14. 1 Pet. 1. 18. 11. He doth revenge it and punish the sinner for it Jer. 5. 25 29. Deut. 18. 12 13. Rom. 1. 18. Eph. 5. 6. Psal 11. 5 6. 12. Mans destruction is from himself Hos 13. 9. Prov. 5. 22. XII They do utterly deny that election of particular persons is made without consideration of faith and perseverance therein as the condition prerequired in him that is to be chosen unto glory The Reason Ps 103. 17 18. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him considered as such Ps 3. 3. The Lord hath set apart the man that is godly for himself Ps 50. ult To him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God Rev. 3. 4. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments and they shall walk with me in white for they are worthy Isa 48. 10. I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction Jam. 1. 12. Blessed is the man that endureth temptation for when he is tried he shall receive the crown of life which the Lord hath promised to them that love him Heb. 6. 12. Who through faith and patience inher it the promise See Heb. 10. 36. Rev. 7. 14 15. See also the proofes of the 2 and 4 affirmatives XIII They do utterly deny that particular men are reprobated from eternal life without consideration had of sin and infidelity and perseverance therein as going before The Reason Exod. 32. 33. Whosoever sinneth Him will I blot out See the 2 4 Affirmative Rev. 22. 15. Without are doggs 1 Cor. 6. 9. The unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdome of God See 2 Thess 2. 12. Luke 14. 17 21 with 24. verse A general reason of both the former Negatives The execution of Gods decree sheweth what the decree it selfe was for God worketh in time all things according to the counsel of his own will from eternity Eph. 1. 11. So that man must be considered in the decree as he is considered in the execution of it otherwise the act decreeing and the act executing should have respect to different Objects and Consequently this act could not properly be called the execution of that Decree Ex. Gr. If a decree be past against T B as a Malefactor and R S doth arrest T B being clear and innocent this action cannot be said to be the execution of the former decree which was made against T B the Malefactor though R S pretends to do it in persuance of the same So in other Cases But in the execution of the divine decree of Election and Reprobation We see men are looked upon according to their several qualifications Mat. 25. 31. 41. Then shall the King say Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdome prepared for you For I was an hungred and ye gave me meat Goe ye Cursed For I was c. Rom. 2. 6 7 8 9. He shall render to every man according to his works To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality eternal life But unto them that are contentious and do not obey the truth but obey unrighteousness indignation and wrath Rom. 8. 13. For if ye live after the flesh ye shall die but if ye through the spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body ye shall live See Psal 11. 5. To the end an Emphatical place Concerning Children They hold That all the children of the faithful are sanctified in Christ so as none of them departing this life before they come to the use of reason can perish Proofs out of Scripture Gen. 3. 15. The seed of the woman shall bruise the Serpents head This seed which is Christ was promised before ever any seed of mankinde was conceived Mat. 18. 11. Luke 19. 10. See Mat. 18. 11 12. Christ came to seek and to save that which was lost 1 John 3. 8. He came to destroy the works of the Devil Rom. 5. 12 18. As by the offence of one judgement came upon all men to condemnation even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life Hebrews 2. 14 15 17. For as much as the children are partakers of flesh and blood he also himself took part of the same that through death he might destroy him who had the power of death that is the Devil and deliver and make reconciliation c. Consider 1 John 2. 12. with Mat. 19. 14. Suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them not for of such is the Kingdome of God See Psal 127. 3. Concerning Children What they do utterly deny I. They do utterly deny that some
by works of righteousness which we had done but according to his mercy he saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour 1 Pet. 1. 3 23. The father of our Lord Jesus Christ hath begotten us again not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible by the word of God c. See Ezek. 36. 26 27. Renewed in understanding will affections c. Ephes 4. 23. Renewed in the spirit of your mindes Col. 3. 10. In knowledge See 1 Cor. 1. 4 5. Tit. 2. 11. Acts 26. 18. To whom I send thee to open their eyes to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God Acts 15 9. God through the Holy Ghost purifying their hearts by faith Heb. 9. 14. The blood of Christ purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God 1 Pet. 1. 22. Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the spirit and the very God of peace sanctifie you wholly 1 Thes 5. 23. To do that which is savingly good c. Mat. 7. 17 18. and chap. 12. 33 34 35. Make the tree good and his fruit good Rom. 6. 22. But now being made free from sin and become servants to God ye have your fruit unto holiness and the end everlasting life See verse 18. II. They hold that the grace of God is the beginning proceeding and fulfilling of all good so as even the regenerate man himself without grace preventing exciting following and co-working cannot think will or do good or resist any temptation to ill so that the good deeds and actions which any man can conceive are to be ascribed to the grace of God in Christ Proofes out of holy Scripture That the grace of God is the beginning c. James 1. 17 18. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above John 8. 36. 2 Cor. 4. 6. If the Son shall make you free ye shall be free indeed 2 Cor. 3. 17. Where the spirit of the Lord is there is libertie Phil. 1. 6. chap 2. 13. It is God which hath begun a good work in you which worketh in you to will and to do of his good pleasure Heb. 12. 2. The author and finisher of our faith 2 Thes 2. 14. Whereunto he called you by our Gospel See verse 15 16 17. 1 Pet 5. 10. c. 2 Pet. 1. 1 3 His divine power hath given us all things that pertain to life and godliness Or resist any temptation to ill c. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God that ye may be able to stand in the evil day Ephes 6. 13. Watch and pray c. Mat. 26. 41. Lead us not into temptation Mat. 6. 13. The good we do to be ascribed to the grace of God c. 1 Cor. 15. 10. By the grace of God I am what I am Gal. 2. 20. The life that I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God 1 Pet. 1. 3. Blessed be God even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope c. 1 Pet. 5. 10 11. But the God of all grace who hath called us into his eternal glory by Christ Jesus to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever Amen See Rom. 1. 8. 1 Cor. 1. 4 5. Ephes 1. 3. c. Rom. 16. 25 26 27. Rev. 1. 5 6. III. They hold that to hear Gods word to be sorry for sin committed to desire saving grace and the spirit of renovation nothing of which notwithstanding can a man do without grace is profitable and needful for the obtaining of faith and the spirit of renovation Proofes out of holy Scripture St. Luke 19. 13 Negotiamini dum venio Trade till I come for whosoever hath to him shall be given and he shall have more abundance Luke 19. 26. See Mat. 13. from v. 10 ro 17. Iohn 6. 45. See Luke 16. 11 12. chap. 19. 17. Every man that hath heard and hath learned of the Father cometh unto me Rom. 10. 17. Faith cometh by hearing Acts 17. 11 12. They of Berea received the word with all readiness of minde and searched the Scriptures Therefore many of them believed Iohn 7. 17. If any man will do his will he shall know of the doctrin whether it be of God See Psal 25. 12 14. Psal 111. 10. Prov. 1. 7. 2 Cor. 7. 10. Godly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation See Acts 2. 37 38. chap. 16. 29 30 Prov. 2. 1 2 3 4 5. If thou wilt incline thine â—ar unto wisdome and apply thine heart to understanding If thou seekest her as silver Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord Prov. 8. 17. I love them that love me and they that seek me early shall finde me Luke 11. 13. Your heavenly Father will give the spirit to them that ask him See the example of Sergius Paulus Acts 13. 7 12. Especially that of Cornelius Acts 10. 1 2 4 5 34 35. See also Gal. 3. 24. Prov. 3. 32. Iob 28. 28. 2 Tim. 2. 21. James 1. 21. 2 Pet. 2. 1 2. See the reason of the Negative following IV. They hold that effectual grace whereby a man is converted is resistible and though God doth so work upon the will by his word and the inward operation of his holy spirit as that he gives both power to believe and supernatural abilities and makes a man actually to believe yet can man of himself despise that grace not believe and so through his own default perish Proofs out of Holy Scripture Ezek. 11. 20. compared with the 21. verse I will take the stony heart out of their flesh and will give them an heart of flesh That they may walk in my statutes and keep mine Ordinances and do them But whose heart walketh after the heart of their detestable things and their abominations I will recompense their way upon their own heads Mat. 11. 20 21 22 23. Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done because they repented not Woe unto thee Chorazin woe unto thee Bethsaida for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon they would have repented long ago in sackcloath and ashes And thou Capernaum which art exalted unto Heaven shalt be brought down to Hell for if the mighty works which have been done in thee had been done in Sodom it would have remained until this day Ezek. 24. 13. I have purged thee and thou wast not purged Acts 2. 41. They that gladly received his word were baptized 1 Thes 2. 13 19. See v. 19. Acts 11. 21. Ye received it not as the word of man but as it is in truth the word of God which effectually worketh also in you that believe See Rom. 1. 16. Acts 13. 46. 48. Luke 14. 16. c. Mat. 22.
every one that thirsteth that labours Jam. 4. 8. Draw nigh unto God and he will dnaw nigh to you Neh. 1. 11. They that desire to fear thy Name Psal 38. 9. 7. He adjourns the judgment upon Ahabs humiliation 1 King 21. 27 29. See 2 Chr. 12. 12. Exod. 1. 17 20 21. 8. He sends direction to such as are pricked to the heart and inquire after him Acts 2. 37 38. To the Publicans and Souldiers Luke 3. 8 10. To the Jailor Act. 16. 29 30. To Cornelius after a most eminent and extraordinary manner Act. 10. 1. to 35. 9. He gives persons of such study and inclinations satisfaction and a blessing Mat. 5. 6. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled See Luk. 1. 53. Mat. 11. 28. God is a rewarder of all them that diligently seek him Heb. 11. 6. Arise therefore and be doing and the Lord be with thee 1 Chr. 22. 16. II. They do utterly deny that effectual grace whereby a man is converted is an unresistible power The Reason 1. Conversion is injoyned us as our duty and we are exhorted to it with promises and threatnings Prov. 1. 22. Ezek. 18. 30 32. Ier. 7. 3. Turn ye turn ye 2. 'T is a matter of Choice Deut. 30. 19. Jos 24. 15. Chuse whom ye will serve chuse life 2 Cor. 5. 20. Isa 1. 19 20. 3. The duty and the grace enabling to it may be neglected 2 Cor. 6. 1. Hebr. 2. 3. How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation Jer. 36. 6 7. Therefore we are admonished Hebr. 3. 7 8. Psal 95. 7 8. Harden not your hearts Some temper of minde better qualified See the 1. Negat 4. God requires our endeavours 1 by way of preparation laying aside the vail 2 Cor. 3. 15. prejudice John 7. 3. 4 5 52. ambition Iohn 5. 44. ch 12. 42 43. all malice and all guile and hypocrisies and envies and all superfluity of naughtiness See Act. 13. 45. Luke 16. 14. that we may with meekness Psal 25. 9 12 14. See Acts 2. 41. as new born babes receive the ministeries of grace Jam. 1. 21. 1 Pet. 2. 1 2. And as many as being in pursuit of the world to come were thus ordained addicted disposed to eternal life believed Acts 13. 48. 5. When being wrought into this temper and frame of spirit by Gods preventing grace we are fit for the kingdome of Christ Luke 9. 62. God requires our endeavours by way of cooperation to make his saving grace effectual which argues 'tis not an unresistible power Rev. 3. 20. Behold I stand at the doore and knock if any man hear my voice and open the door Which doore turns upon two hinges faith and obedience Rom. 1. 16. 1 Thess 2. 13. Ephesians 3. 17. Romans 6. 17. I will come in to him c. 6. That this grace is not unresistible appears further By Gods option O that there were such a heart in them that they would fear me c. as above 7. He complains also of mens perverseness and contumacy obstructing the work of grace in themselves See Mark 6. 6. Isa 5. 4. What could have been done more to my Vineyard that I have not done in it Mat. 3. 15. Ezek. 12. 2. They have eyes to see and see not they have ears to hear and hear not for they are a rebellious house Isa 63. 7 8 9 10. But they rebelled and vexed his holy spirit Zech. 7. 10 11 12. But they refused to hearken and pulled away the shoulder and stopped their ears that they should not hear Yea they made their hearts as an Adamant-stone lest they should hear the law and the words which the Lord of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former Prophets 8. Some are captivated to the obedience of this grace whiles others stand out in rebellion against the power of it Act. 2. 41. ch 13. 48 with 45. Some gladly receive it others do thrust it from them contradicting and blaspheming See 1 Thess 2. 13. with 2 Thess 2. 10 11. Ezek. 3. 5 6 7. Thou art not sent to a people of a strange speech surely had I sent thee to them they would have hearkened unto thee but the house of Israel will not hearken unto thee Mat. 11. 20 21 22. Tyre and Sidon and Sodome would have repented but you will not Matth. 12. 41. The men of Nineveh repented at the preaching of Jonas but you resist a greater light and force of grace behold a greater then Jonas is here 2 Cor. 2. 14 15 16. To the one we are the savour of life unto life and to the other the savour of death unto death 9. The Lord punisheth the refractary for resisting the work of his grace and spirit Heb. 6. 7 8. For the earth which drinketh in the rain and bringeth forth fruit receiveth blessing from God But that which beareth thorns and briars is rejected and is nigh unto cursing whose end is to be burned Prov. 1. 24. c. Because I have called and ye refused c. Zech. 7. 11 12 13. Therefore came a great wrath from the Lord. Iohn 3. 19. This is the condemnation that light is come into the world and men love darkness rather than light Ezek. 24. 13. See Mat. 13. 15. c. Acts 28. 24. c. 2 Chron. 24. 19 20. In thy filthiness is lendness because I have purged thee and thou wast not purged thou shalt not be purged from thy filthiness any more till I have caused my fury to rest upon thee James 4. 6. God resisteth the proud but giveth grace to the humble See the 4. and 7. Affirmatives III. They do utterly denie that God doth bestow grace sufficient for faith and couversion only upon those whom according to the decree of his Election he willeth to convert unresistibly and that he neither doth nor willeth to bestow on the Reprobates grace necessary to faith and salvation The Reason 1. Psal 145. 8 9. The Lord is good to all and his tender mercies are over all his works 1 Tim. 2. 3 4. He will have all men to be saved 2 Pet. 3. 9. He will not that any perish Mark 16. 15. with 20. Go preach the Gospel to every Creature and they went forth and preached every where the Lord working with them and confirming the word with signes following Isa 5. 4. What could have been done more See Mark 6. 6. Jer. 36. 6 7. Ezek. 18. 31. Why will ye die Ezek. 33. 11. As I live saith the Lord I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked c. See the proofs for conditionate Election Administration of necessary and sufficient means and the seriousness of Gods call being the 7. affirm propos above 2. He threatens to withdraw his grace from men only for their stubbornness and rebellion against him and it Mat. 21. 41 43. Therefore the Kingdome of God shall be taken from you Rev. 2. 5. Or else I will remove thy