and the World hath hated them because they are not of the World even as I am not of the World Here are two distinct Partys described by Christ the one is Prayed for the other is not the one is hated the other hates the very Practice of the latter denotes the Persons to be Children of another Father distinct from those they hate There is nothing more discovers Men to be the Children of the Devil than their hating Righteousness and not loving those who appear to be Godly 1 Jo. 3.10 In this the Children of God are manifest and the Children of the Devil whosoever doeth not Righteousness is not of God neither he that loveth not his Brother As Love to God his Truth and such as bear his Image is an infallible Character of an Elect Child of God Jo. 13.35 1 Jo. 3.14 1 Jo. 4.7 So to hate God his Truth and such as bear his Holy Image is the indelible Character of a Reprobate designed for Eternal Destruction 1 Jo. 3.10 The second thing in the Proposition to be considered is the End and Design of God in that Act of his in Electing and Choosing which is twofold First as it respects the Creatures Elected viz. that they might partake of the Special Grace of God here on Earth and of Eternal Glory in the Kingdom of Heaven through Christ his Son according to that of Paul Ephes 1.4 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 2 Thes 2.13 Because God hath from the beginning Chosen you to Salvation through Sanctification of the Spirit and Belief of the Truth Vers 14. Whereunto he called you by our Gospel to the obtaining of the Glory of the Lord Jesus Christ 1 Thes 5.9 For God hath not appointed us to Wrath but to obtain Salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ Secondly with respect to God Electing viz. That the Glory of his Soveraign Free and rich Grace might be Extolled and Praised for ever according as the Apostle expresseth it in Ephes 1.6 To the Praise of the Glory of his Grace wherein he hath made us accepted in the Beloved Vers 11 12. In whom also we have obtained an Inheritance being predestinate according to the purpose of him who worketh all things according to the Counsel of his own Will that we should be to the Praise of his Glory who first trusted in Christ The third thing in the Proposition to be considered is to take Notice of the Properties in that Act of God Electing Those Properties are in number three First God in Electing and Choosing some Sinners to himself out of the corrupted Mass of fallen Mankind on whom he purposed to shew Mercy He did Elect and Choose them most freely there was nothing at all in the Objects Elected and Chosen that could move God wherefore he should Elect one Sinner more or sooner than another for as fallen into Sin and equally obnoxious to the Curse of the Law and the Wrath to come were all the Sons and Daughters of Adam lookt on by God when he fixed his Electing Love on some and actually rejected and passed others by on whom the most High God as an uncontrolable Soveraign purposed to execute the fierceness of his Wrath for Sin The reason or impulsive cause of this Difference which the tremendous God saw fit to make between Sinners equally guilty and obnoxious to the Curse and Wrath of God is not to be sought out of God himself An Example and lively Instance hereof we have in Rom. 9.11 which the Wise God hath seen sit should be recorded on purpose to stop the mouth of Carnal reason which is so wretchedly prone to Question and Dispute against his Soveraignty over his Creatures The Children being not yet Born neither having done any good or evil that the purpose of God according to Election might stand not of Works but of him that calleth It was said unto her the Elder shall serve the Younger As it is Written Jacob have I Loved but Esau have I Hated The Wise God foreseeing the purblind Reasonings and Cavillings of Carnal Mens unsanctified Brains against the Doctrine of Gods absolute Soveraignty in disposing of the Eternal concerns of his rational Creatures fallen by Sin into a state and condition of Misery through their own default hath seen good for the vindication of his own Prerogative to make known to the Sons of Men and that by the unerring Wisdom and unquestionable Authority of so great a Man as Paul the great Apostle of the Gentiles the reason of Gods Method in proceeding to Elect some of fallen Mankind to a state of Life and Salvation through a Redeemer and Reprobating others leaving them for ever to perish in that Sin and Misery into which they did without any constraint wilfully plunge themselves to be no other than his own most free and holy Will seeing that he alone is the undoubted Soveraign of the World who hath an indisputable right to determine what to do with or how to dispose of Sinning Rebels without being any way liable to the controulment of any of his Creatures especially such of them as by Sin have forfeited their very Being to the Divine Justice and who while in an unreconciled State are not capable of knowing him or of being subject to his Divine Law The good Will and Pleasure then of the Blessed God is the Source and Fountain whence the great Disparity between the Elect and the Reprobate World doth spring not any thing in the Creatures themselves as Arminian Cavillers dream and conceit it doth This will evidently appear if the Reader will but with a becoming modesty and unprejudic'd judgment read the whole Chapter at length and with fervent Prayer to God for the Wisdom of his Spirit look narrowly into and with sobriety consider the 11th and the 16th Verses where it plainly appears that the two conceited Qualifications of which the Enemies of Election are usually proud and which they hold and teach are the procuring cause of the Difference between the good and the evil Men on Earth viz. the Free Will in Man and the good Works which unregenerate Men do but conceit they do they are both met with and equally discarded by God from having any room or place among the causes which put God either upon Choosing the Elect or rejecting the Reprobate Mark the 11th Vers That the purpose of God according to Election might stand not of Works but of him that calleth With this agrees Ephes 2 8.9 For by Grace are ye Saved through Faith and that not of your selves it is the Gift of God Not of Works least any Man should boast And Tit. 3.5 Not by Works of Righteousness which we have done but according to his Mercy he hath Saved us c. Vain unregenerate Man would fain perswade himself that he is worse than Threadbare Rags of his polluted Morality negative and positive is a covering sufficient
THE Doctrine of Particular Unconditionate ELECTION Before Time Asserted and Prov'd by God's Word against the Quakers Papists and Arminians In Answer to a Challenge given the Author by the Quakers to make good by the Scriptures of Truth the abovesaid Doctrine Wherein is evidently discovered I. That the abovesaid Doctrine rightly understood and believ'd with Application to ones self is the great Enemy of Sin both in the Heart and Life of a true Believer and that which keeps the Believer from Despair in the deepest Desertion and Temptation II. That the Doctrine of Free-will and General Redemption c. is an Inlet to and an Encourager of Sin and which leads in the end to horrid Despair under powerful Awakenings in the natural Conscience of an Unregenerate Man For there shall arise false Christs and false Prophets and shall shew great Signs and Wonders insomuch that if it were possible they should deceive the very Elect Mat. 24.24 Wherefore the rather Brethren give all diligence to make your Calling and Election sure c. 2 Pet. 1.10 By Ja. Barry an unworthy Minister of the Gospel LONDON Printed for the Author 1700. TO THE Impartial READER Courteous Reader I Am to inform thee that in the time of the Popish Government when Popery and Quakerism smil'd so amicably on each other as the two Religions if I might so call them which are nearest of Kin of all the Religions visibly profess'd in these Kingdoms the People called Quakers sent me a Thrasonical Challenge in Writing which was afterwards published in Print to prove from the Scriptures of Truth the Four Doctrines here following 1. The Doctrine of the Resurrection of this fleshly Body which Dies and turns to Duft 2. The Doctrine of Justification by the alone Righteousness of Jesus Christ freely imputed 3. The Doctrine of Imperfection in Sanctification in the most Mortified Believer while in this World 4. The Doctrine of Particular Unconditionate Election before Time All which the Quakers do stiffly and peremptorily deny as by their Printed Book against me doth evidently appear Their Challenge I was resolv'd to answer in Print to let the World see what Heterodox and Heretical Principles that deluded and seduced People do hold and teach for true Religion Besides my Resolution herein I oblig'd my self by promise to my Congregation that I would in the Strength of Christ prick the Bladder of their Blasphemous Pride by proving and making good by the Scriptures of Truth the abovesaid Doctrines For my Encouragement wherein my Congregation did unanimously stand by me resolving I should be at no other Charge hereabout but the Studying part Paper was Bought the Printer agreed with and just as the Press was ready to begin the Storm came so suddenly on the Protestants in Dublin that we were soon scattered asunder The Providence of God calling on us to secure our Lives instead of Printing Books The reason why I have been so long silent in this Cause is the want of that help I had from my Flock in Dublin If any generous noble Spirited Christians who love Christ's Cause better than they do the Mammon of this World will step in to my Encouragement in supplying the room of my absent Friends they shall in a very short time see the Four Doctrines above-mention'd clear'd up and made good from God's Word Maugre all the Jesuitical Craft and Subtilty whereof that People seem to be Masters The reason why I have singled out the last of the four Doctrines rather than any of the other three to discover and confute the Quakers pernicious Heterodoxy in the foundation Principles of true Christianity is twofold First because that in denying and opposing the Doctrine of particular unconditionate Election before time they do manifestly Rob God of his Soveraignty and Praise Secondly because of the Natural tendency which the denial of this Doctrine of a particular unconditionate Election before time and the holding and propagating its contrary viz. The Doctrine of Free Will to good in every Man of General Redemption and a Temporary Conditional Election with falling from Grace hath to encourage Men in Living a licentious loose Life and to necessitate Mens final despair of Salvation when the Naural Conscience in Vnregenerate Men comes to be under powerful Awakenings for Sin committed against the Law of God That I do the Quakers no wrong in charging them with Robbing God and encouraging Men to Live in Sin as also their laying a Foundation for Mens despair of ever being saved in their way of Conditional and Temporary Election will evidently appear to him who reads and compares with Gods revealed Will what is discovered in this small Tract And in case any noble Spirited Christians will but encourage the Work as already hinted I do not so much as doubt but that the Spirit of God will enable me to demonstrate from Gods own Word that the Quakers in denying the Resurrection of the Body and the Justification of a Sinner by the alone Righteousness of the Son of God freely imputed without any regard had to any Qualifications inhering in the Person of the Sinner Justified do deny all sound and saving Religion And as touching their Sinless Perfection attainable in this Life whereof they make such Brags it shall be made plain that herein they both belye the Spirit of God and contradict the experience of all saved Believers both in Heaven and Earth CHAP. I. Of Election before Time GOD did before all Time by his unchangeable Counsel most freely unchangeably and from all Eternity elect and choose unto himself out of Lapsed Adam's fallen Posterity a certain number of Persons which can neither be lessened nor encreased to partake of his special saving Grace to Salvation by Jesus Christ his Son to the Praise of the Glory of his own Grace What I have now asserted for truth if God enables me to demonstrate and make good by Scripture as I doubt not he will then will it unavoidably follow all the Wit and Malice of Men and Devils cannot overthrow it that God hath passed by and Reprobated others In the Proposition now laid down there are three things to be considered in order to a clearing up and making good the Point in Dispute First The Act of God and the Objects thereof which are both held forth and intended in the Scriptures following Ephes 1.4 According as he hath chosen us in him Jo. 15.19 I have chosen you c. 2 Thes 2.13 God hath chosen you c. In the Scriptures now quoted we have God Electing or Choosing and then the Objects of his Election or Choice viz. Particular Persons on whom that Election of God fixeth viz. Some particular Persons That God's Act of Election hath fixt on some particular Persons not on all in general as the Enemies of Election would fain have it the following Arguments will evince Arg. 1. If God hath made a Promise of Life and Salvation to some particular Persons only then hath he elected and chosen
see that I am herein mistaken and out of the way Secondly As touching my Judgment herein I do affirm and that in truth God knows I lye not I honestly and fairly acquainted my now Reproachers what I was in my Judgment as to this very Point when they first discovered an Inclination to call me to take the Pastoral Charge of their Souls About this they and I had several occasional Discourses Pro. and Con. for and against it and in conclusion they with the rest of the Covenanters with God in a Church way did own themselves fully convinc'd that the Congregational way of Church Government was most certainly the way of the Gospel and as such they freely closed with me If what I have now asserted be deny'd I shall by Authentique Testimonies make the same good to their Faces I come to the second Branch of the Charge viz. My being a great Enemy to Mr. Baxter c. In answer whereto I possitively affirm that I never in my Life had any Prejudice against Mr. Baxter save only to dislike and caution my Flock against some Notions of his wherein I conceived him to be Heterodox in the Foundation Principle of Justification I told my Auditory as plainly as I could speak that in mentioning Mr. Baxter's Name my design was not to meddle in Judging him as touching his Eternal State only what of Corruption I found in his Books I judg'd it my Duty to take notice thereof and to caution my Hearers who had his Books to beware of such Notions And what I did herein I did it God and my Conscience knows in Faithfulness to Christ and the Souls of those committed to my Pastoral Charge by the Great Shepherd of the Sheep But to say that Mr. Baxter was Damn'd in Hell I abhor the very hearing or thoughts of such a thing neither dares any one living except a cauteriz'd and brazen fac'd Sinner to charge such a Slander on me so far was I from uttering such an uncharitable I may say Infernal Expression that I plainly spoke the contrary as my Judgment of him declaring that I hoped Mr. Baxter was with Christ in Glory and that I dare to think no otherwise As for what of Corruption which is mixt with his Writings I told my Auditory I lookt on that as a part of the Wood Hay and Stubble intended by the Apostle in 1 Cor. 3.12 of which Mr. Baxter will I doubt not suffer the Loss in the Great day though he himself be saved he holding Christ the Foundation firm and stedfast to the end as in Charity I hope he did The third Branch of the charge is that I affirmed that Christ had but two or three right Gospel Ministers who Preach Christ truly in and about London To this I answer in the Negative viz. That I never thought or spoke such a thing either in or out of the Pulpit in all my Life The occasion of this Slander was this I was in a Sermon bewailing the small number of right Gospel Preachers at which time and on which occasion I said that a great many Preach'd up the Pope That 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that Man of Sin Others said I Preach up the National Hierarchy and its Interest instead of the Kingdom of Christ Others there be said I who Preach up Moses and obedience to his do and live in the room of Christs Mediatorial spotless Righteousness for Justification and Life so that in comparison it is undeniably true that Christ hath but few who Preach him and his immaculate Righteousness as the only Meritorious and procuring cause of Justification and Salvation This is what I said then and truly I see but small reason to think or say otherwise I question not but the Orthodox in and about London will readily Harmonize with me herein But that I did limit the true Ministers of Christ to any certain definite number or that I mentioned any Ministers Names by way of distinction I utterly deny And I have very good reason to judge it no breach of the Law of Charity to believe that the secret design of the Reporters hereof was to incense and provoke the Spirits of Godly Ministers and their respective Congregations against me And hereby to prepare them for a more facil and ready reception of the other black and scandalous Reproaches which were to be brought on the Stage on purpose to do my business as one of their Confederates was heard to say he would do I come to the fourth Branch of the Charge which is That I should bid a publick challenge to Mr. Williams and the rest of Mr. Baxters followers to Dispute certain Positions held and asserted by Mr. Baxter and those who go his way To which I reply That this is as true as the rest and did I am very sure proceed from the same lying Spirit which Coined and Forged their other lying Stories against me the design whereof was not only to corroborate that their Design in its Foundation but also to draw over Mr. Williams and others whom they knew to be impatient to hear any Opposition given to any Notions of Mr. Baxters to them to help and encourage them to break that Church whereof themselves were an Essential part and to force my flight from my Station in C. to which their own Electing Voice called me The occasion of this Slander was thus I did one day in Preaching lay down this Position viz. That an Elect Sinner is in effectual Calling freely justified from all charge of Sin both Original and Actual by the alone Mediatorial Righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ freely imputed by God and that without any regard had to any Conditions performed by or Qualifications inhering in the Person of the Sinner as con Causes with Christ in Justification This said I is a truth so clearly laid down and asserted in the Gospel and so back'd with the witness of Gods Spirit in the Hearts of all assured Believers that all the Disputers in the World who oppose the same will never be able to overthrow it be their Wit and Parts never so sharp and admired And whether I be mistaken herein I freely appeal to the Judgment and Determination of all Orthodox Protestants who in the point of Justification are not more or less tainted with the Ropish Arminian Leaven of Free Will and General Redemption But to bid a challenge to Mr. Williams or any others to dispute matters of Controversie in Religion I do most solemnly profess I never spake such a thing either in or out of the Pulpit The fifth and last Branch of the black Charge brought in against me was That I am an Universal Docryer of all Religious Duties in the Life and Conversation of a Christian Crying out in the Pulpit away with your Holiness c. The design of my Accusers in this was to represent and expose me as a rank Antinamian and so I should prove were the Accusation true But to let all who read this see