go When Job's Substance was stolen by the Sabeans and Chaldeans and his Servants slain Job worshipped and said The Lord hath given and the Lord hath taken away Chap. 1.20 21. Concerning God's All-governing Providence it is said Eccles 3.14 I know that what God doth it shall be for ever nothing can be put to it nor any thing taken from it And God doth it that Men should fear before him Concerning the Assyrian the great Enemy and Spoiler of Israel it is said Isa 10.5 O Assyrian the Rod of mine Anger and the Staff in their Hand is my Indignation I will send him against an hypocritical Nation Isa 13.16 17. Their Children also shall be dashed in pieces before their Eyes their Houses shall be spoiled and their Wives ravished Behold I will stir up the Medes against them Psal 105.25 He turned their Heart to hate his People and to deal subtilly with his Servants Matth. 6.13 And lead us not into Temptation Prov. 16.4 He hath made all things for himself and the Wicked for the Day of Evil. When Shimei cursed David 2 Sam. 16.10 he said The Lord hath said unto him Curse David Rom. 1.24 God gave them up to Vncleanness through the Lusts of their own Hearts Ver. 26. God gave them up unto vile Affections 2 Thes 2.11 12. And for this Cause God shall send them strong Delusions that they should believe a Lye that they all might be damned who believed not the Truth but had pleasure in Vnrighteousness Though God had a glorious Design in the Death of Christ yet they were wicked Hands that crucified him God's Decrees do not justifie Men's Sins It was a most horrid Act of the Jews to crucifie the Lord of Glory yet Peter saith Act. 1.23 Him being delivered by the determinate Counsel and Fore-knowledge of God ye have taken and by wicked Hands have crucified and slain Act. 4.27 28. For of a truth against thy holy Child Jesus whom thou hast anointed both Herod and Pontius Pilate and the People of Israel were gathered together to do whatsoever thy Hand and thy Counsel determined before to be done The Hand and Counsel of God determined before even from Eternity that Christ should at that very time die as Mediator for his Church and the Jews by their wicked Hands to satisfie their Malice did crucifie him as if he had been a Malefactor O the depth of the Wisdom and Knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his Judgments and his Ways past finding out But of all the Reformed Divines this Author shews most Wrath and Indignation against Calvin who in his Time was a glorious Light in the Church Mr. Richard Hooker that wrote against him about Church-Discipline yet confesseth him to be the wisest Man that ever the Church of France bred And another Episcopal Divine saith He never heard any good Man speak of him without Honour But this Author makes scurrilous Verses of him and directs them too to Calvin himself though he hath been so long dead and compares Calvin to Cain and Michael Servetus to Abel Let us enquire what this Servetus was This Author is much mistaken to think that he was put to death for being of this Author's Judgment about Baptism it was for Blasphemy against the Blessed and Holy Trinity Indeed this Author saith he was a learned and worthy Man though perhaps mistaken in some things pag. 27. Ah Do you put a Perhaps he was mistaken in some things when he denied and blasphemed the Holy Trinity Waving what Sleidan Ross and others say of him let us hear what Dr. Owen in his Answer to the Antitrinitarians and Socinians saith of this Servetus pag. 44. Servetus stuffed all his Discourses with horrid Blasphemies Beza tells us he called the Trinity Tricipitem Cerberum Words not fit to be Englished they are so full of Blasphemy and wrote that Moses was a ridiculous Impostor Beza Epist 1. And there are Passages cited out of his Book of the Trinity which I have not seen that seem to have as much of the Devil in them as ever yet was written or spoken by any of the Sons of Men. If saith he Christ be the Son of God Debuissent ergo dicere quod Deus habebat uxorem quandam spiritualem vel quod solus ipse Masculo-faemineus aut Hermaphroditus simul erat pater mater nam ratio vocabuli non patitur ut quis dicatur sine matre pater Et si Logos Filius erat natus ex patre sine matre dic mihi quomodo peperit eum per ventrem aut per latus To this heighth of Atheism and Blasphemy had Satan wrought up the Man so that I must needs say he is the only Person in the World that I ever heard or read of that ever died upon the Account of Religion in reference to whom the Zeal of them that put him to death may be acquitted Thus he Although this Author thinks that God doth not for the Manifestation of his own Glory over-rule the Children of Men yet it is mamnifest that God hath given him a Spirit of Slumber as a Check and Punishment to him that he should be left of God to desame such a Man as Calvin and extol Servetus an Antitrinitarian and one of the greatest Blasphemers of the for ever Blessed Trinity that ever was in the World By this you have lost all Credit and Esteem with all wise and knowing Christians that Worship the Holy Trinity God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Ghost three Persons and one God to whom be glory for ever CHAP. VII Of the Lords Drawing and Vniting of the Elect to Christ in effectual calling 1. VVHen Arminians have made great flourishes of Gods having the same love of good will to all Adams Posterity they are exceedingly grated with this Objection that follows If God have the same love of good will to all the Children of Adam why are but some saved and not all why doth not God convert all 1. Some of them are ready to say that God cannot Convert them they are so stubborn and rebellious though he desires to do it but this is down-right Blasphemy to say that God cannot convert those whom he purposeth intendeth and desireth to Convert he that made the Heart can change the Heart can turn it as the Rivers of Water which way soever he pleaseth with the greatest facility easilier then we can stir a finger I heard above forty years since an Arminian Preach Mr. H.D. a Man of as great Learning and Ability as most of that way in England this Man was inveighing against Election and special Grace at last he came to answer an Objection to this purpose You will say Is not this a meer beating of the Air a meer flourish of words to tell you that God hath such a Love to all Adams Posterity that he would have them all saved and yet they are not saved suppose saith he that a Mother should say that she had a great Love for
another Sir Recollect your self I cannot remember that ever I saw your face more than three times in my Life before I saw you lately in Norwich The first time I saw you was upon the Road on Horseback I met a Friend upon the High-way that you were travelling with I saluted him and he told me your name and so after a few words you went your way and I mine The second time was about fifteen years since going to see a Neighbour that lay Bed-rid he was one of your way but I think a Godly Man and I visited him several times in Love you was there and we had two Hours Discourse and all about Controversies The third time was about eight Years since you came into a Friends House where I was upon a Journey and stayed about an hour This was all our acquaintance and as for our being Neighbours it is true that in some sence all are our Neighbors but I suppose you and I liv'd twenty Miles Distant though I am not certain where you lived for as you never were at mine House in Lincolnshire so I never was at yours What a poor business is it that the World should be troubled about our Acquaintance and Neighbourhood Sir though you and I differ in several points of Religion yet I love all Men and though I do not desire intimacy with any Man that is of a Contentious Spirit I love Peace and Quietness yet if you please to let me know when you are in any want you shall find that not only my self will relieve you but that I shall get others of my Friends to Minister unto you otherwise I do not desire Acquaintance with you whilst you are so violent and abusive Then you say that some of my Jacobs have called you Rogue and wisht that you were put out of the Town I am sorry that you should use such passionate Speeches as to call any persons my Jacobs and as to calling you Rogue I hope none of the Congregation that I belong to ever used such unseemly words of you for my part I have always spoke of you in Company with good Respect till you put forth the Book I love to speak the best I can of every Man Q. 4. You tell me that in pag. 19. God chose us so many and no more I pray who are those us whom you call us surely you speak of the Living I answer Let the Reader hear with Patience what is said Pag. 19. the words are these This is especially applied to the Father in Scripture to choose us before the Foundation of the World to foreknow us to predestinate us to be conformable to the Image of his Son therefore in that Scripture 1 Pet. 1.2 where you have the proper and distinct Work of Father Son and Holy Ghost about the Vessels of Mercy the Apostle saith We are Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father through Sanctification of the Spirit unto Obedience and sprinkling of the Blood of Jesus Christ observe here our Election is ascribed to God the Father he chose us so many and no more this Man and not the other Jacob and not Esau then you have the proper work of the Son in those words the sprinkling of the Blood of Jesus Christ it is he who washeth us from our Sins in his own Blood he purchaseth all good things the second Person in the Trinity He is the Lord our Righteousness he is the Propitiation for our Sins he is our Mediator it is not the Father that is Mediator nor the Holy Ghost but the Son it is he that took upon him our Nature it was the Word that was made Flesh not the Father nor the Holy Ghost it was the Son that died upon the Cross for our Sins not the Father nor the Holy Ghost then you have the special Work of the Holy Ghost about our Sanctification in these words through Sanctification of the Spirit unto Obedience It is the Holy Ghost who in our Conversion doth Sanctifie us and bring us to the Obedience of Faith he applieth Redemption as the Son hath wrought Redemption when the appointed time when the fulness of time is come to call home an Elect Vessel he convinceth the Soul of Sin he revealeth Christ to the Soul he infuseth the Habit of Grace and after Conversion is with us to mortifie our Corruptions comfort us and lead us and to carry us to the Heavenly Kingdom Now What Cause had this Author to say Who are these Vs Surely you speak of the Living I answer I speak as the Scripture speaks in those Texts that I have mentioned of all the Elect of all the Redeemed of all that are or shall be sanctified and how strange and captious is it for this Author to go on and say You have good Thoughts of your self for you must be one of the Vs And shew me how many and no more or at least name One to make good the Word Vs and prove by the Word of God that You Two were undoubtedly chosen to Salvation Surely this Author was not in frame when he wrote thus this is just like a Woman scolding and quarrelling in the Streets I am heartily sorry for him Qu. 5. and 6. Are both about the same thing about Jacob and Esau Now concerning Jacob and Esau note 1. That Esau was not saved appears by Heb. 12.15 Lest there be any Fornicator or profane Person as Esau who for one Morsel of Meat sold his Birth-right This Observation may give much Light into this Matter that when any that were real Saints under the Old Testament are spoken of in the New Testament all their sinful Failings are covered and their Grace only mentioned So it is with Abraham Sarah Job Sampson Lot though they had many sinful Failings yet I say they are covered in the New Testament and their Faith Patience and Holiness only mentioned Or if there be an hint of their sinful Failings as of Rahab and Elijah there is mention also of their Faith and Prayer and the Grace of God bestowed upon them But when Esau comes to be mentioned in the New Testament the Holy Ghost leaves him upon Record that he was a profane Person 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one that despised set light by and contemned holy things So that let it be observed that Esau after he had been so long dead is in the New Testament where the sinful Failings of the Saints of the Old Testament are covered is left under this black Character that he was a profane Person 2. As to what is said Rom. 9.13 As it is written Jacob have I loved but Esau have I hated let it be observed that the Apostle in that Chapter from the Beginning to the End is not treating about outward things but about spiritual things and to shew them that amongst them that enjoy Church State and Church-Privileges and Ordinances some are from Eternity elected to Salvation of God's mere Grace and others are passed by And the Apostle
effectually for all those for whom he dyed that he will certainly and infallibly bring them to Grace and Glory have no cause to be ashamed of their Doctrine Those that maintain that no man can come to Christ except the Father draw him and that with such a drawing as that they shall freely and yet most certainly and infallibly come to Christ and be eternally saved have truth on their side And all the Sophistry Cavils and Evasions of Arminians are as nothing to overthrow this Doctrine Whosoever shall observe the Book that I answer will find that this Author doth scarce attempt to argue and prove any thing except it be in a very few places but only raises outcries against others Therefore what I have written is only occasioned by this Author to clear up these points rather than to answer any Arguments he hath produced for his opinions but that little Argument he hath used I have taken into consideration If any Reader thinks that I have now and then used too much sharpness against this Author he may be pleased to take notice that those that know me can testifie that I have a greater Latitude as to any rigid judging of men as to their Eternal Estates because they hold many erroneous opinions than some others have Those that are truly built upon Christ upon his Merits and Righteousness as their Foundation though they may in their Superstructure have much Hay and Stubble yet God will graciously pardon them in Christ But when this Author tramples not only upon the Assembly of Divines but upon Calvin Zuinglius Beza and many other Divines of the Reformed Churches and extolls Michael Servetus one of the greatest Blasphemers of the Sacred Trinity that ever was in the World It may be some Readers will think I have not been sharp enough against such a confident Boysterous person There is printed with this Authours a Book of Mr. Haggars I never heard of the person or of his Book before though it seems it hath been printed five times It may be it hath been answered or none have thought it worth the answering The Book is almost nothing but Errours and Mistakes I do not remember that ever I read a Book more confused or where the Author sheweth himself more ignorant of the true meaning of the Scriptures he makes use of except it were in some Books of the Quakers The Apostle Paul saith Ephes 1.3 4 5. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all Spiritual Blessings in heavenly places in Christ according as he hath chosen us in him before the Foundation of the World was laid The Apostle there sheweth 1. That there are Spiritual Blessings bestowed upon some These Spiritual Blessings are effectual Calling Justification Adoption Perseverance in Grace and the Heavenly inheritance 2. He shews that all these Spiritual Blessings are conferred upon us through the Lord Jesus Christ the Mediator as the Meritorious cause God purposed to do all for the Heirs of Salvation in and through him 3. He shews the Eternal Designation of the persons that shall in due time partake of these Spiritual Blessings he saith they were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the World 4. He shews that they were not chosen upon any foresight of their Holiness by improving those common helps they had equal with others but that God chose them that they might be Holy that is he would in due time give them Faith and Holiness And this is yet more evident from v. 5. having predestinated that is fore-ordained us to the Adoption of Children by Jesus Christ according to the good pleasure of his Will So that it is most manifest that those whom God chose he chose them so as that he would himself make them holy and that the moving cause was not any worthiness or towardliness in them which God foresaw But the Apostle saith it was the good pleasure of Gods will his especial undeserved free Love and good will to their persons that was the moving cause of their Election Now let the Reader observe what this Author saith to this Scripture Though God calleth men elect from the Foundation of the World yet they are not elect until the very day of their Conversion and turning from Sin to God for God calleth things that are not as if they were From whence it is evident they were not elected though so called page 2. What a strange passage is this As much as to say though the Scripture saith it was so yet it was not so well but saith this Author it is said of Abraham Rom. 4.17 As it is written I have made thee a Father of many Nations before him whom he believed even God who quickens the dead and calleth things that are not as if they were Now saith this Author Abraham was not yet a Father of many Nations but it was so before God who calleth things that are not as if they were For the understanding of this Scripture 1. Observe that though it was but at that time spoken of and declared to Abraham Gen. 17.4 5. that he should be a Father of many Nations yet God hath made and appointed him so to be from Eternity Tho' Gods Decrees and Intentions what he will do are manifested to men in time yet they are all from Eternity 2. Observe that when God did declare to Abraham his Eternal Counsel that he should be a Father of many Nations Abrahams Body was dead as to Masculine Vigour But the Apostle shews that nothing can hinder Gods Purposes and Decrees for God quickneth the Dead dead Souls and dead Bodies when he pleases and calleth things that are not as if they were that is calleth for what he pleaseth and it is done As in the Creation God did but say Let there be Light and there was Light The Apostle is shewing Gods Omnipotency That God having appointed Abraham to be a Father of many Nations nothing can hinder his eternal purpose for saith the Apostle he quickens the dead and calleth things that are not as if they were Ut majorem ejus rei facilitatem in deo declaret to shew the great facility of this Work to God to whom it is as easy to make any thing to be as it is for us to call for a thing and easier too as one Expositor notes well upon the place So that this Author quite mistakes the meaning of the place for God did not tell Abraham that he was a Father of many Nations when he was not But God told him that he had made him that is appointed him so to be which should be performed in the appointed Time and Season by his Omnipotency against all natural impossibilities because he is the Almighty God that quickneth the dead and calleth things that are not as if they were When he calleth for any thing to be done to be effected according to his purpose it exists the same moment The Context in Rom. 4. with other
these Authors as to throw down the whole Arminian Doctrine and in the most plain and popular way that I could to set forth the Truth of God to the Capacity of ordinary Christians The Lord add his Blessing and give us Vnderstanding in all things Norwich Jun. 11. 1691. M. F. THE CONTENTS Chap. I. AN Examination of Mr. Grantham's Title Page Chap. II. A Vindication of Dr. Collinges Chap. III. That Christ did not die for all Adam's Posterity Chap. IV. Ten Arguments to prove that all that Christ died for shall be saved Chap. V. Of Election and Reprobation Chap. VI. Of God's Eternal Decrees what shall come to pass in time Chap. VII Of the Father's drawing the Elect to Christ Chap. VIII Of the Saints Perseverance in Grace Chap. IX An Answer to Mr. Grantham's Queries CHAP. I. Examination of the Author's Title Page THE Person with whom I have now to do calls his Book A Dialogue between the Baptist and the Presbyterian and stileth himself Messenger of the Baptized Churches in Lincolnshire It is fit to enquire a little into these two Titles he giveth himself He stileth himself the Baptist Indeed we read Mat. 3.1 2 3. In those days came John the Baptist preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying Repens ye for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand and this is he that was spoken of by the Prophet Esaias saying The voice of one crying in the wilderness Prepare ye the way of the Lord make his paths straight So we read of John the Baptist that was prophesied of by Esaias who is already come but I find no Prophecy of any Thomas the Baptist that was to be sent of God John is called the Baptist because he Baptized Christ himself and because he was sent in an extraordinary way to Baptize the people of the Jews I think it is too high a Title for any man now living in the World to call himself the Baptist 2. This Author stiles himself Messenger of the Baptized Churches in Lincolnshire I suppose that all the Churches and Congregations in Lincolnshire of all perswasions do think that the Members of their Churches are Baptized tho' not in this Author's way and is he the Messenger of them all But take it for the Churches of his own Perswasion Let us enquire how he is their Messenger We read of Messengers of the Churches 2 Cor. 8.23.24 Whether any do enquire of Titus he is my partner and fellow-helper or our Brethren be enquired of they are the Messengers of the Churches and the glory of Christ Wherefore shew ye to them and before the Churches the proof of your Love and of our boasting on your behalf As for the Messengers of the Churches here spoken of as such they were only chosen by some Churches to travel up and down to other Churches for a short space to get Contribution and Relief for other Churches that were in great want by being spoiled of their Goods by Persecutors or by some other means brought to some great outward necessities And if this Author be a Messenger of Churches in that way he hath undertaken a good work and I hope that those he is so violent against will be as Charitable to relieve the necessities of other Christians though not of their Perswasion as he can expect But when he calleth himself Messenger of the Baptized Churches in Lincolnshire he hath another meaning We read of the Angels of the seven Churches Rev. 1.20 Now by the Angels of those Churches is meant Messengers of the Lord to those Churches The Lord's Messengers to declare his Mind and Will to them Here were several Angels and Messengers of the Seven Churches but one Man was not the Angel or Messenger of several Churches The Angel of the Church of Ephesus was not the Angel of the Church of Pergamos and of the rest of the Seven Churches So that it is likely that this Author counteth himself to have Jurisdiction and Authority over many Churches And truly if he be the Baptist a Title given only to John hitherto and be Messenger at the same time of several Churches we know not how many and have Spiritual Power over them he is an extraordinary person and 't is no wonder that he deals with so many persons and things Yet truly I should think if he were more than an ordinary Presbyter he should visit with more Mildness and Moderation There is another thing in the Title Page that is very bold and daring to the most high God He represents the Presbyterians as holding Cruel and Soul-devouring Doctrines making God the ordainer of all the Sins of Men and Devils and reprobating the greatest part of mankind without any help of Salvation 1. Concerning God's ordaining of all the sins of Men and Devils I shall speak God willing in answer to your Book and shew in what Sense God ordained and decreed to leave Angels and Men to themselves and so to sin 2 As to Reprobating the greatest part of mankind without any help of Salvation this you call A Cruel and Soul-devouring Doctrine I answer 1. That I suppose your self hold that the greatest part of mankind do in the end perish eternally I am sure our Saviour declared that few there be that find the strait gate and narrow way to Heaven That 't is but a little Flock to whom God gives the Kingdom of Heaven That tho' many are called yet few are chosen Not but those that are saved are a Multitude which no Man can number Rev. 7.9 yet comparatively they are few they are few in comparison of those that perish 2. Whether they that perish were ordained of old from Eternity to Condemnation for their sins or reprobated in time as you hold Truly this little alters the case As for the greatest part of mankind reprobated they are and cast into Hell at last without any help or hope of Salvation and if this be cruel Doctrine have a care that you don't contend and strive with the holy Sovereignty and Justice of God and when you argue with men about these things have a care you don't quarrel with God himself Do you think that those that do not adore the incomprehensible Greatness and Holiness of God can ever be satisfied that God punishes mens temporary sinning with Eternal Punishment 'T is not talking of a common love of God to mankind and talking of Universal Redemption when in the Conclusion God takes Vengeance for ever upon so many of mankind for their Sin and Folly That will really take off men from quarrelling with God But the humble acknowledgment of his absolute Lordship over the Works of his Hands and that he is infinitely Just and Righteous in all that he doth tho' we poor Dust and Ashes cannot comprehend it This must silence Man This Author sets down a Scripture in the Title Page Psalm 64.7 8 9. But God shall shoot at them with an Arrow suddenly shall they be wounded so they shall make their own Tongue to fall
a thing which he never purposed and intended to be be done yea which he resolved to hinder the doing of therefore it is one thing for God to command us to do a thing and another thing for God to purpose and intend this thing shall certainly be effected Yea take another instance concerning Pharaoh Exod. 4.21 And the Lord said unto Moses When thou goest to return into Egypt see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh which I have put in thine Hand but I will harden his Heart that he shall not let the people go God sent a Command to Pharaoh to let the People of Israel go out of his Land Exod. 5.1 but before ever Moses came to Pharaoh with this Message and Command God said to Moses I am sure that the King of Egypt will not let you go no not by a mighty hand Exod. 3.19 So here you see that God as Sovereign Lord may give out a Command to shew his Authority over Man and require a thing of Man as his Duty when he doth not intend to enable a Man to do it Yea when God intends to harden a Man's Heart that is intends to leave Man to the Corruption of his own Heart that he shall never do what God commands him If you will not adore the Incomprehensible Majesty and Ways of God but compare him with Man put Laws upon God that he must do as Man is bound to do then I say this borders upon Blasphemy if it be not down-right Blasphemy against the most high God CHAP. III. An Answer to this Author's Letter to Mr. H. wherein this Author pretends to bring several places of Scripture for Vniversal Redemption IT seems Mr. H. sent a Paper of Verses to this Author He answereth these Verses by a Letter and with this very Humble and Civil Direction To the Nameless and Nonsensical Poet indeed I have seen these Verses and truly to speak my Judgment of them tho' this Author calls them Nonsensical yet they were written with great Judgment excepting the Scriptures which this Author quotes which are excellent in themselves however wrested and mistaken by Men I think there is more Truth and good Sense in those Verses than in all this Author's Book 'T is true he that made those Verses did not shew himself to be a good Poet but he shewed himself a knowing Christian and tho' I have known the Person many years yet I could not have expected that he could have framed so many solid Arguments against Universal Redemption and if I had known before hand that he would have written to this Author I would have advised him to have written in Prose and not in Verse Good Poetry is one thing and good Sense is another These Verses were against Universal Redemption This Author in Answer to this Letter brings several Scriptures for Universal Redemption which are now to be explained When the Papists bring for Transubstantiation the words of our Saviour This is my B dy We deny Transubstantiation but we don't deny the words of our Saviour but shew the meaning of the words to be otherwise than they understand them So in dealing with this Author we do not deny the Scripture we hold that Christ dyed for all for every Man for the whole World that is for all the Elect for all Believers of all Nations of all Ranks throughout the whole World and we say no more is intended in any of those Expressions but that this Author and those that are of his Opinion mistake the meaning of the Scriptures Before I come to explain the Scriptures this Author brings for Universal Redemption 1. Let it be considered that the words all every the World and the whole World do not always signify all Adam's Posterity but must be taken in a limited restrained Sense yea sometimes but for a few that there is nothing can be concluded from those Expressions but by considering the Subject matter spoken of and the Circumstances of the places of Scripture where those Expressions are used 1. As for example of the word all it is not always meant of all Adam's Posterity but sometimes of but few Persons Psal 145.14 The Lord upholdeth all that fall whereas Men fall into sin and misery yea the greatest part of mankind into Hell it self and the Lord doth not prevent these things The meaning is only that those that are upheld and kept out of Sin and Misery here or Hell hereafter he it is that upholds them but this all that the Lord upholds are indeed but a small number in comparison of those that God doth not uphold The Jews said to John chap. 3.26 He to whom thou barest witness behold the same Baptizeth and all Men come to him when it was so few that came to Christ so that John saith vers 32. that no Man comparatively received his Testimony 2. For that Expression every Man it is often to be taken in a limited restrained Sense Luk. 16.16 The Law and the Prophets were until John since that time the Kingdom of God is preached and every Man presseth into it It was only some of all sorts and very few in comparison of those that were then living in the World 1 Cor. 12.7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every Man to profit withal when indeed the manifestation of the Spirit there spoken of the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit are given to few very few but the meaning is only that to every one of those to whom this Manifestation of the Spirit is given it is that they may profit others with it Again 1 Cor. 4.5 the Apostle speaking of the Day of Judgment saith That then shall every Man have praise of God which is meant only of every true Believer for the greatest part of Adam's Posterity shall not then have praise of God but have the Sentence of Eternal Damnation pass against them 3. As for the word World and whole world these Expressions are sometimes taken too in a limited restrained Sense John 12.19 The Pharisees therefore said amongst themselves Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing Behold the World is gone after him whereas it was but few very few of Men then living in the World that went after Christ and owned him in any Sense it was only of a few in that little Country of Judea that were there spoken of Luk. 2.1 And it came to pass in those Days that there went out a Decree from Caesar Augustus that all the World should be taxed it was but all the Jews as some Expositors think however it was but all that were subject to the Romans which were far from being all Mankind then living in the World I might give many more Instances that the word all and every Man the World and all the World are taken in a limited and restrained Sense sometimes and that nothing can be collected rightly from such Expressions but as the Matter treated of and the Circumstances of the place shall require 2. I would
the Name of God Gracious and Merciful page 21. And what then are the Turks in a State of Salvation who deny the Trinity deny Christ to be God deny Christ to have dyed but one in his Room and put up Mahomet an Impostor as the great Prophet Indeed your Friend Servetus Conversed much with the Turks and would have had a Reconciliation of the Turkish and Christian Religion It may be this Author doth not understand the danger of these Opinions but they tend to the Subverting of the Christian Religion What if the Turks have a Notion that God is Merciful and Gracious They and all others will find that except they come to God by Christ the Mediator the Sacrifice for Sin they will find God to be a consuming fire to them This Authors mentioning of the Turks puts me in mind of a Discourse I once had with a Quaker one of the most knowing Men that ever I knew of that way and he said the Turks were as good Saints as any were in England Indeed the Arminians and Quakers they run all upon this that there is a sufficient light that God gives to all Mankind that if they do but heed that Light it will bring them to Salvation Ay and so our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ the Knowledge of him and Faith in him must be but an indifferent thing and not absolutely necessary that they may maintain their Opinion of Universal Grace What darkness is coming upon this Land that the blind lead the blind after this manner 2. Well then set that question aside for the present what that Mercy and Goodness of God is that if Men accept God from the beginning chose them to Salvation in Christ What is this the Election the Scripture speaks of Here is not a Syllable of Gods purposing of his meer Grace infallibly to give them a new Heart to give them Faith and Repentance and so they must thank themselves if they be saved The Arminians will allow God only to decree that all shall be saved that are so wise and careful as to believe in Christ by improving that common and universal Grace that is afforded to them that are damned as well as those that are saved They will not allow that God hath elected any Persons from Eternity so as that he will certainly call them and that they shall obey that Calling that those Persons from God's special and distinguishing Grace shall be infallibly saved thro' our Lord Jesus Christ If there were no other Election but this there might not one Man or Woman in the World have been saved but blessed be the Name of God for ever God hath from Eternity chosen particular persons to Salvation chosen them so as to give Christ for them and certainly and infallibly to give Christ with all his Benefits to them Acts 13.48 As many as were ordained to Eternal Life believed they were not ordained to Eternal Life because they believed but they believed because they were ordained to Eternal Life there were some of the Hearers that God had from Eternity ordained to Eternal Life that were now to be savingly called and to them God gave a new Heart Faith and Repentance when others contradicted and blasphemed Ephes 1.3 4 5 6. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all Spiritual Blessings in Heavenly places in Christ according as he hath chosen us in him before the Foundation of the World that we should be Holy and without blame before him in Love having predestinated us to the Adoption of Children by Jesus Christ to himself according to the good pleasure of his Will to the praise of the Glory of his Grace wherein he hath made us accepted in the Beloved 1. Here we see that those that God blesseth with Spiritual Blessings Justification Sanctification Adoption Grace and Glory it is by Jesus Christ all is communicated through him 2. Those that God doth in time Justifie and Sanctifie he purposeth to do it for those very persons before all Time even from Eternity 't is according as he had chosen them before the Foundation of the World was laid God from Eternity chose Christ to be their Mediator and Head and chose them to be the Members of his Mystical Body He did not choose them upon any foresight of Holiness in them but chose them to make them Holy and without Blame before him in Love 3. If any ask the Question Why God chose those individual persons and not others the Apostle shews that it was the good pleasure of his Will v. 5. to the praise of the Glory of his Grace v. 6. to the praise of the Glory of his Discriminating Distinguishing Grace who will be gracious to whom he will be gracious and will have compassion on whom he will have compassion whatsoever Men and Devils say against it Revel 13.8 And all that dwell upon the Earth shall worship him that is the Beast whose names are not written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the Foundation of the World As Christ the Mediator was fore-ordained before the Foundation of the World to be Mediator and was slain in the Decree and Purpose of God from Eternity so there were the Names of those he should be slain for in time written in the Book of Life not that God uses Books and Writing as Men do but the Persons of those that were Elected from Eternity were as certain so many and no more as if they had been written in a Book And because they were thus Elected God will not suffer them to be finally deceived to worship the Beast 1 Thessal 1.4 5. Knowing Brethren beloved your Election of God for our Gospel came not to you in Word only but in Power and in the Holy Ghost and in much Assurance So far as we can know that the Gospel comes with Saving Power upon the Hearts of any so far we know their Election before the Foundation of the World Men are not elected when or because the Gospel comes with saving Power upon their Hearts but because God had elected them to Life from Eternity therefore he sets home the Gospel in due season with Saving Power upon their Hearts 2 Thess 2.13 But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you Brethren that God hath from the beginning chosen you to Salvation through Sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the Truth 1. God's choosing from the beginning unto Salvation is meant of his choosing them from Eternity to the End viz. to Eternal Salvation 2. Through Sanctification and belief of the Truth shews the way by which God eternally intended to bring them to Salvation 3. The Apostle shews that God did in his eternal choosing of them freely purpose to bring them into this Grace wherein they stood that is he decreed to give them that Sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the Truth which he had now actually bestowed upon them Those whom God hath chosen
for God's giving his Son to be a Propitiation for the Sins of the whole World it is a Scripture-Truth 1 Joh. 2.2 And the meaning of that Phrase as I have made it evident when I opened that Text in this present Book is only this That Christ died for the Elect not only for the Jews but also for the Gentiles throughout the whole World But I maintain that Arminians deny that God gave his Son to be a Propitiation in a true Scripture-Sense for the Sins of any one Man or Woman in the World Whilst they pretend to hold Universal Redemption they hold not Redemption at all but do acknowledge that notwithstanding any Propitiation Christ made there might not one Man or Woman in the World ever have been saved I said in that Letter though he did not think fit to mention it that Arminianism was the Root of Quakerism which I shall now demonstrate thus Arminians hold that Men have sufficient Grace to bring them to Salvation if they improve their Talent that is Nature and what Helps they have as they should do Hence the first Quakers being Arminians formed this into other Words but the same for substance That there is a sufficient Light in all Men that if they do but heed it will bring them to Salvation And so Arminianism is the Fundamental Point of that Sect. I said also in my second Letter that a good Divine I did not name him but it was Mr. L. said that Arminianism is the Life and Soul of Popery Upon which he saith Sure you do not know what Popery is I will maintain what this Divine said thus Though the Papists hold many other Errours yet the Life and Soul of Popery is their Doctrine of Man's Merits either by way of Condignity or Congruity the Generality of them being ignorant of Christ's being an absolute Propitiation and Purgation for Sin by his Death They look to be reconciled and purged by their own Merits and thinking that Faith alone in that Propitiation and Purgation by the Blood of Christ is not sufficient to justifie them that come unto God by him therefore they trust to the Merit of their own Works and thinking that such good Works as are appointed in the Word are not sufficiently meritorious they have invented many superstitions Observations and then lest all should fail they count upon a Purgatory after this Life where they shall be purified from their Sins by their suffering the Pains thereof So that Arminianism which makes the Dving of Christ for a Person such a low insignificant thing makes them look out for better Helps as they think than from Christ the only Mediator And I suppose that upon such grounds that Divine called Arminianism the Life and Soul of Popery As for what he adds Whether your conceit that God hated so many millions before there was any cause of hatred in them yea before they had a Being yea before the World was yea from Eternity be not the life and Soul of Calvinism I answer God from Eternity had all in his Eye knew them as really as if they had then had a Being and loved and chose to Salvation through Christ whom he pleased and for the rest let it be observed that God is not said properly to hate any no not the Devils and damned in Hell all that we say is that he never purposed to bestow that Grace upon them that perish which of his good Pleasure he purposed to bestow upon others but to leave them to their Sins and to Condemnation for their Sins And whereas he speaks of the Life and Soul of Calvinism as I had done of the Life and Soul of Popery it should seem as if he made Calvinism as ill as Popery yea it may be he thinks it much worse It puts me in mind of what I have often heard that some of this Author's Judgment should say That truly if they were to change they would turn Papists rather than to any other Perswasion in the Land I speak this by the way not that I charge this Author with any thing more than he will freely own himself But to shew what Promoters the Papists are of Anminianism I would have two things remembred and taken notice of 1. A Letter dated March 1628 from a Jesuit to the Rector of Bruxels wherein there are these words Whilst King James lived you know he was very violent against Arminianism and interrupted with his pestilent Wit and deep Learning our Designs Now we have planted that Sovereign Drug Arminianism which we hope will purge the Protestants from their Heresie and it flourisheth and will bear Fruit in due season This Letter was long since Printed 2. In the Year 1653 Pope Innocent the Tenth by a solemn Bull or Papal Consistorial Determination in the Case of Jansenius Bishop of Ypres declared for the Pelagian Tenets Now the Arminians follow the Pelagians I have set down these things that Protestants may take notice that Pelagianism and Arminianism are more suited to the Popish than to the Protestant Religion It came into my Mind upon this Author 's talking of Calvinism to set down these two Passages which it may be few have been acquainted with Now I have done with this Author and do appeal to any Sober Judicious Person Whether this Author hath in his Queries dealt like a modest man yea like a fair honest moral man He hath put me to a great deal of pains to Answer his Book considering my Age and what bad Eyes I have had some years whereby both â—eading and Writing are made hard to me If he write again I do not intend to meddle with him any more I know in some measure all the Sophistry Cavils and Evasions of the Arminians and whatsoever he can write will be but a meer shew and shadow of an Answer a quarrelling at some by-expressions I know that what I have written already will stand as an Answer to all that he can write hereafter I bow my Head and worship the Father of Lights who hath so far enabled me to clear up these Points that I hope the Faithful shall understand them and be rooted and grounded in the Truth All the Weakness and Imperfection in handling these things is mine all that is good to the use of Edifying the Church in my Labours is from God to whom be Glory for ever and ever Amen FINIS