means of Grace to the Gentiles as well as he had to them Had bestowed many Privileges upon the Gentiles as well as upon them had Adopted the Gentiles as formerly he had Adopted them nay had called the Gentiles to be his peculiar People and Rejected them because of their Unbelief the Apostle shews that the Jews had no Reason to Stumble and be Offended at this for this was no unjust or unusual Act of the Divine Oeconomy God did not bind himself to observe Privileges or to consider Precedency witness his dealing with Ishmael first his passing them by and his granting the Land of Canaan to Isaac though he was the younger Brother and witness his dealing also with Esau his passing him by too and his continuing the former grant to Jacob though he waâ— the younger Brother likewise Upon this Account the Jews should not depend upon their Primogeniture neither It was not an Unrighteous thing in God to grant now the outward means of Grace and and Privileges Evangelical to the Gentiles and to make the Gentiles his peculiar People to enjoy them in a high degree and to take away those singular Prerogatives and outward Blessings from the Jews though they were the Elder People This is the plain Account of St. Paul's design and meaning in the ninth Chapter to the Romans and all that can be reasonably gathered thence out of the instance of Esau is what I observed before in the instance of Ishmael namely that God did not give him such outward Advantages in this Life as he gave his Brother Jacob but deny'd him special Favours for some Reasons best known to himself And in all this there is nothing of God's laying Esau under the dismal Curse of Eternal Reprobation There is not a Word of Esau's Damnation nor any thing like it nor do we meet with any thing I think in the Scriptures sufficient to make Men conclude that he was a Damned Person Indeed the Author of the Epistle to the Hebrews calls him a Prophane Person because for one Morsel of Meat he Sold his Birth right to which the Kingly Power and the Priestly Office did in those Days belong But that single Act is the only great Wickedness that is Recorded of him and of that in all probability he did Repent too when he besought his Father to Repent of giving away the Blessing from him However that was we do not Read that he ever Apostatiz'd from God or that in the whole course of his Life he deserted the true Religion Practised by his Father Isaac and therefore there is no apparent ground for the heavy Sentence which is commonly past upon him by some who perhaps are more prodigal of other Mens Souls than they are careful of their own I have insisted the more copiously upon these Famous instances because the true account of them is not vulgarly known and because some who should have understood these things rightly have quite misapply'd them and have argued from them to destroy the Belief of God's Love to the World which is one of God's great Glories and the great Hope of all the Ends of the Earth AND now to draw this point to an end God's dispensing of his special Favours in this Life whether they be bestow'd upon particular Persons or on whole Nations can be no Token of their Fortunes in another Life and therefore we must not Measure God's Love to Mankind by the Proportions or Disproportions of his Providence in distributing and ordering Affairs here God hath a sincere Love for the whole Race of Adam though he be not pleased to give us all here the same equal Advantages and in all this God is Righteous because it is an Eternal Rule that we find Luk. 12. 47 48 That Servant which knew his Lords Will and prepared not himself neither did according to his will shall be beaten with many Stripes but they that know not and do things worthy of Stripes shall be beaten with few Stripes For unto whomsoever much is given of him shall be much required and to whom Men have committed much of him they will ask the more We must not conclude that all People are in a Lost condition who do not enjoy those singular Blessings which others have especially if they make a due use of the Advantages which God hath given them For these are things which God hath a Power and Right to dispose of according to his own will and pleasure And however he is pleas'd to dispose of them he doth no wrong to any Besides this World is not the place for Rewards and if some fall short as to these outward Matters here they are capable of having an abundant compensation made them in a Future State But this is not their case who once fall under everlasting Condemnation and therefore Mens Lots in another World ought to be determin'd not according to Pleasure but according to Righteousness Their sad condition there is Remediless and unchangeable and the Torments they endure are not only Simply and Infinitely Evils but they are Evils too which are supposed to be inflicted on them under the notion of punishments and therefore they must be in consideration of antecedent Crimes Knowingly and Deliberately and of choice committed for to Inflict Eternal Torments upon Men for what they cannot avoid is Inconsistent with the Righteousness of God contrary to Eternal Reason and utterly Repugnant to the infinite excellency and perfections of his most Blessed Nature CHAP. VII That we must not judge Uncharitably of other People upon a Presumption that we our Selves are of the Number of those who are Elected to Everlasting Life and what the Scripture means by the Elect. Fourthly CONSIDERING God's Love to the whole World we must be careful not to Judge Uncharitably of others upon a Presumption that we our selves are of the Number of those who are Elected to Everlasting Life Divines usually give us a Scholastical Distinction between Election unto Glory and Election unto Grace By Election unto Glory they mean God's purpose of bringing all those and only those unto Eternal Life who Believe in Christ and observe his Laws Now though the consideration of this be of great Comfort to all who Love the Lord Jesus in Sincerity yet the Decree it self as far as it is known to us is General it is Revealed to us in general Terms as to particulars it is secret particulars are not to be known nor can any ordinary Christian be Infallibly certain that he is chosen to Everlasting Happiness till he is gone out of the World WE Read indeed of a Book of Life wherein Men's Names are said to be Written St. John speaks of such a Book he saw in his Vision the design whereof was to represent things to us in a way which was most adapted and suitable to our Capacities The meaning of the Vision as to that is that God doth infallibly Know and at the Day of Judgment will openly Declare Reveal and Reward those who
St. Paul 1 Tim. 1. 15. This is a Faithful Saying and worthy of all Acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the World to Save Sinners The stress of my Argument hence lyeth here that the Doctrine of our Redemption by Christ is a most comfortable Doctrine Not only a Truth but a most acceptable Truth a Principle that sufficiently recommends it self to every Man and Deserves to be Received by every one in the World for the inestimable Consolation it carryeth along with it Now this necessarily implies and proves That Christ came into the World to make every Sinner in it capable of Salvation in a better World because this is the onely substantial ground of that Comfort I speak of the only Principle whence we can with Reason gather that Satisfaction which makes the Doctrine of our Redemption worthy to be Accepted by us all A Man's Soul had neeâ— have all possible satisfaction touching the Reasonableness of his Hopes especially when he prepares himself for important Offices of Religion or is about to Die Then it stands in need of a solid and sure bottom to support it and give it rest nor do I see any other such grounds for reasonable satisfaction and the Comforts of a Man as this great Truth That Christ Died for the good of all Mankind Though some are ready to flee to God's Decrees for succour and to Cherish themselves with a confident perswasion that they were Elected to Salvation from Everlasting yet this is no sure Foundation to build on 't is unreasonable to take Sanctuary there and to fly for Refuge to the secret Counsels of God's Will This is the Work of Fancy and strong Imagination and many People may be willing to work themselves into it partly out of a principle of spiritual Pride and partly to quiet an evil Conscience and heal some inward sores which a Vicious Life hath made Nor are any so ready to run to God's Decrees as immoral People whose Sins pursue them with a great Cry Alass it is impossible for any of us without immediate Revelation which is not afforded now to Read our Names in the Book of Eternity or to know Infallibly that they are there those secret things belong unto the Lord our God by us they are Unsearchable and past finding out and therefore we cannot gather any reasonable Comforts that Way NOR Indeed doth the Revealed Will of God the Holy Scriptures themselves afford us much without that most acceptable Doctrine which I am now defending For neither in this Book can any of us find our Names Written no more than in the Volum of God's Decrees The Scripture is silent as to the state of particular Persons and all the Comfort any single Man can gather from it comes by making reasonable conclusions as to himself out of general Premises There are in the Bible many necessary Laws prescribed and many excellent promises given to the Faithful indefinitely and at large and when a particular person compares his private state with the common Rule and upon a due comparison discovers that according to his Power he hath sincerely and honestly observed God's Commands or doth now do so and resolves stedfastly by God's Grace to persevere to the end in so doing he may then very reasonably Hope and Cherish himself with an Humble Modest Confidence that he shall be Happy Yet all this is upon a supposition that Christ Died for him for if Christ be not a propitiation for his Sins such a Man is lost and utterly undone notwithstanding all his performances And how I pray can any particular Man be reasonably assur'd of that but by being assur'd first That Christ tasted Death for every Man This general Truth being believed That Christ was a Sacrifice for all Mankind and for the whole World it is easy and necessary for that particular Person to conclude That Christ was a Sacrifice even for him because he is one of Mankind and a part of the World But without this most Acceptable Principle I cannot see with what Reason and Comfort he can conclude for himself the Scripture tells him nothing of that as to his own particular all that he hath reasonably to rely on is That the Son of God Died for all Take away this Principle and farewel all Faith all Obedience all hope and comfort with it I mean all solid Reason of Hope and Comfort Fancy and Imagination there may be in this Case too but I speak now of Rational Convictions and Rational Consolation all that must depend upon this bottom and foundation that Christ came into the World to Die and offer himself up for every Child of Man This makes the Doctrine of our Redemption a most Acceptable Doctrine indeed a most Comfortable Saying worthy of all Men to be received whereas without this Latitude and as some People are willing through the pride of their Hearts to understand it 't is so far from being Acceptable unto all Men that it seemeth a very Frightful Doctrine For if the Son of God Died not for all Men to the utmost extent though he had past by but One in the whole World and had excluded but One from having any Benefit by the propitiation upon the Cross that one Person being not Known nor Mentioned how could any one of us all tell but he was that Person I might have been fearful it was my self another might have been though with less Reason as fearful as I a third as fearful too a fourth as fearful as the rest and so on ad infinitum For every one in the World might have thought himself equally concern'd to Fear and consequently to Despair as well as another Every one would have been in suspence and perplexity at least as People that are forced to draw Lots for their Lives not knowing how the chance would fall out till the Day of Judgment To be sure this Tormenting Doubt would be incident to all People of scrupulous Minds and great numbers of very Pious People are such and then what would become of Christianity Considering the Hereditary Weakness of our Nature the many Actual Sins we are Guilty of and how unworthy the very best are of eternal Happiness what Heart or Encouragement would any one have to undertake or persevere in Religion if Christ by passing any one by had put every one thus under Fears and Dangers of being Cast-aways at last This would have served to spoil the whole Work of Redemption and to have damp'd the Faith of all at least it would have brought on such a Faith as St. James speaks of in those most Miserable Spirits who Believe and Tremble I have insisted upon this Argument the longer to shew you of what great Consequence this Point is and what weighty Reasons we have to inculcate and urge the Belief of it The Interest of Christ's Religion and the Peace of every Christian's Mind depends upon it for which cause the Catholick Church of Christ hath maintained it from the Beginning to
do now Faithfully serve him of this purpose of God there is no manner of Question and therefore if Men conceive that we dispute against any such Decree they do but beat the Air and Talk of Matters which they do not understand The thing insisted on is this that none are chosen to Eternal Happiness without any consideration of their Faith and Works and perseverance to the end in well doing And as touching a Man's particular Election unto Glory or the Gracious purpose of God towards this or that Person in particular this we say is a Secret a Decree not to be known till the Book of Life comes to be opened that is till the Day of Doom cometh Therefore every one of us must stay our time nor must any dare to go now upon fond presumptions of their own especially so as to condemn or think hardly of others I call such partial Conceits fond Presumptions of Men's own because though many People be strongly perswaded that they are absolutely and particularly Ordained unto Life and cannot miscarry yet as to this they believe without Book and without sufficient Grounds because they want the Authority of Divine Revelation which is the only sure Ground-work of a right Faith 'T is Imagination only and Opinion how strong and violent soever it may be and instead of being bottom'd upon the Word of God it may proceed from two very evil Causes 1. FIRST From a Spirit of Pride which Tempteth some to think their Names ought to be Written in Heaven and therefore are soon perswaded to believe that they really are so though for this they take either their own Word or the Opinion of others whose Persons they have in equal admiration I heartily wish that all such as go upon this imagination would seriously consider whether this be not one prime reason of it because it is a Notion so very pleasing and suitable to their own Hearts 2. SECONDLY It may proceed too from a Principle of Carnality for it is an imagination that is Friendly and Kind to Flesh and Blood Where-ever it prevails such as are possest withit find no necessity for them to mortifie their Lusts and to be careful of Living Godly Righteouss and Sober Lives This they call good Morality but cannot think it of any use to them because they suppose themselves sure of their Salvation by God's Absoute Decree upon this Account they and their Vices may dwell very quietly and lovingly together They may be Lew'd Dishonest Unjust Hypocritical Malicious Revengeful False Troublesome Uncharitable Proud and Lovers of the World and yet these Vices are as they think consistent with their State of Grace because they are perswaded that stands firtm upon the immutable Will of God Considering therefore the Vanity and Origical of such Pharisaical conceits it is very dangerous for People to give any way to them and more dangerous to trust to them after a presumptuous manner and most of all dangerous to value themselves upon them especially so as to Judge uncharitably of others as if they were no better than Reprobates and Cast-aways This is a very ill thing and that which is far from being a Sign of their particular Election rather indeed an Argument of the contrary because all Uncharitableness is a direct Violation of the Law of Christ by which we shall all of us be Judged in the Day of God Since God Loves us all instead of shutting any out of his Kingdom every one should lend his Brother his Hand to help him in 2dly FOR secondly there is as Divines usually speak an Election unto Grace which we have all a Title unto Election unto Grace is when People have this great Blessing and Privilege given them to Live under the means of Grace when they have the Gospel Mysteries Publish'd and Revealed to them and when they have the Assistance of the Holy Spirit offer'd and afforded them so that they Receive the Truth as it is in Jesus Whatever Fancies some are apt to entertain concerning this matter this is the true Scripture Notion of Election Accordingly the Scripture means by the Elect of God not such as are supposed to have been from Eternity particularly and by name designed for Glory for I can confidently say it that the Word is not in that Sence any where used in the whole Scripture but generally such as now profess true Faith in Christ and especially such Eminent Persons among them as by their Vertuous and Holy Lives adorn the Doctrine of God their Saviour in all things and resolve firmly and faithfully to Persevere unto the end in so doing The Reason of this honourable Appellation is taken from the different Effect which the Word of God hath upon the Hearts of them that hear it On some it maketh a slight and superficial Impression like the Seed cast on the Way side Others receive it with Joy and Believe for a while but in time of Temptation immediately fall away In others it taketh deeper and better Root but yet in time is choaked with the Cares and Riches and Pleasures of this Life so that it bringeth no Fruit to Perfection But others there are though the fewest in number that lay up the Word in Honest and Good Hearts and that bring forth Fruit plentifully and with perseverance in well-doing to their Lives end Now of all that Profess Christ's Religion those who adhere close to it are the best the most Eminent and Principal ones and therefore the Scripture calleth them after a more peculiar manner The Elect. Many are called to the knowledge of the Truth but few are chosen saith our Saviour or according to the Greek the Elect are few that is the Faithful and Choice Professors of the Truth are few in comparison So Matt. 24. 22. Our Saviour speaking of the great Tribulation that was to come upon Jerusalem said That for the Elects sake those Days should be shorined meaning that out of Respect and Love to the true Believers among the Jews God would shorten the time so that a remnant even of the Unbelieving Jews should escape too though they did not deserve it So again v. 24. Our Lord foretold that False Christs would arise which would if it were possible deceive the very Elect that is the most Sincere Persevering Christians to use the Words of our incomparable Paraphrast Dr. Hammond And so in divers other places where it is said that God will gather together his Elect that he will Avenge his own Elect that none shall lay any thing to the Charge of God's Elect that we must put on as the Elect of God Holy and Beloved Bowels of Mercy and the like the Word signifies those who are now in a Blessed State of Faith and Holiness those who Serve Obey and Love the Lord Jesus in Sincerity Briefly if you search the New Testament throughout you will find this Observation true that generally speaking People are called the Elect of God not in respect of any Antecedent particular Decree