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A35903 A dialogue between Timothy and Titus about the articles and some of the canons of the Church of England wherein super-conformity is censured and moderation recommended : with a serious perswasive to all the inferiour clergy of that Church / by one that heartily wisheth union amongst Protestants. One that heartily wisheth union amongst Protestants. 1689 (1689) Wing D1336; ESTC R734 65,452 44

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for himself yea even the wicked for the Prov. 16.4 day of wrath Hath not the Potter power over the clay of the same lump to make one Rom. 9.21 vessel unto honour another unto dishonour was ever any thing more fully and plainly said in holy writ than this part of our Article Tim. I think not or can be Tit. These portions of Scripture to which more might be added were it needfull doe not barely assert a Predestination of some and not of others but assign also all the causes of such Predestination as 1. The Cause efficient to be the everlasting purpose of God. 2. The Cause formal Gods infinite goodness mercy and free grace 3. The Cause material the blood of Christ 4. The Cause final or end why both God the Father hath loved and Christ for his Elect hath suffered is the glory of God and the salvation of men so that I cannot see how any man who is at enmity with this Article can hold any good friendship with these Texts of Scripture or with those that arise to prove the next point which is this 6. They who are Elected unto salvation if they come unto years of discretion are called both outwardly by the word and inwardly by the spirit of God. These things are most evident and clear in the Scriptures where is set down both the calling of the Predestinate their obedience to the word being called their adoption by the Spirit to be the chidren of God and their holiness of life and conversation whom he did Predestinate them he also Rom. 8.30 Gal. 1.15 1 Thess 2.12 2 Tim. 1. 9. Eph. 1. 13. called God separated me from my mothers womb Called me by his grace Walk worthy of God who hath Called you to his Kingdom and glory He hath saved us and called us with an holy calling according to his own purpose and grace c. In whom also ye trusted after ye heard the word of truth the gospel of your salvation Ye have received the spirit of adoption whereby we cry Abba father the same spirit bearing witness Rom. 8.15 16. with your spirits that we are the children of God. And for their being chosen and called to holiness of life and good works the Apostle plainly enough asserts saying we are his Eph. 2. 10. workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath ordained that we should walk in them And the Grace of God hath appeared c. teaching us that denying Tit. 2. 11. 12. ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly righteously and Godly in this present world yea saith the next Proposition 7. The Predestinate are both justified by faith sanctified by the Spirit and shall be glorified in the life to come All these blessed effects of Predestination doth the Scripture fully assert for know saith the Apostle a man is not justified by the works of the Law but by the faith of Jesus Christ Moreover whom he predestinated c. them he also glorified If children then heirs heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ And as we Gal. 2. 16. have born the image of the earthly so shall we bear the image of the heavenly Now are not all these consequents of Predestination viz. Justification Sanctification and Glorification Rom. 8. 30. v. 17. 1 Cor. 15. 49. fully enough expressed in these Texts Tim. Very fully in my opinion Tit. Therefore very well doth our Church say in the next part of this Article That 8. The consideration of Prodestination is to the godly most comfortable but to curious and carnal persons very dangerous To the former the Meditation of it must needs be exceeding sweet pleasant and comfortable because it greatly confirms their faith in Christ and encreases their love towards God. I account the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us If God be for us who Rom. 8. 18. v. 31 32 33 34. can be against us He that spared not his own Son how shall he not with him freely give us all things Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect it is God that justifieth who is he that condemneth ye are sealed with the holy spirit of promise which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession unto the praise of his glory And again grieve not the holy Spirit whereby ye are sealed unto the Eph. 1. 13 14. day of Redemption Here is a deep and large Well of Consolation to the godly yet not affording the lest drop to carnal and wicked men Eph. 4. 30. Tim. But doth not this Doctrine lead towards Desperation Tit. by no means for no man either from the word of God or this Article of ou● Church can gather that he is a vessel of wrath fitted for destruction but contrariwise by many and great arguments may perswade himself that God wills not his destruction as by the next proposition plainly appears viz. 9. That the general promises of God set forth in holy Scripture are to be embraced of us such are Come unto me all ye that travel and are heavy laden and I will give you rest Math. 11. 38. 39. Joh. 3. 16. 17. 1 Tim. 2. 4. God gave his onely beloved Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish c. Who will have all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth These and many more such general Promise● of grace and favour to mankind are heartily to be embraced of us as encouragements to faith repentance and an holy life So that whoever embraceth these promises and as our Church in the close of this Article saith 10. Will in his actions be directed by the revealed will of God hath no ground to despaire or to exclude himself out of the number of Gods Predestinate or chosen ones Thus you see the drift of this Article comprehending most fully and clearly that great doctrine of Predestination with all its coherent doctrines which is so much cryed down in our day and which is the wonder and shame of all by some sons of our Church who have subscribed it Tim. I must confess I have been one of those led by the example of the greater ones rather than by the depth of my own knowledge But surely these men have something to say for themselves is not our Church single in this point Tit. Admit she were yet there are two weighty reasons why they should not desert or oppose her in this First Because she hath the Scripture on her side And Secondly Because they have listed themselves her faithfull votaries by subscription Tim. That is true these are plaguy strong tyes Tit. But withall I say she is not single in this point for the Churches in Helvetia Basil and France believe and hold the same as their publick confessions bear witness yea all the reformed Church Tim. Who then are the enemies